Jamaica Environment Trust wants greater accountability after yet another Rio Cobre fish kill

There are some stories in Jamaica that just repeat themselves, at regular intervals.

It is almost beyond belief that this is happening again, but the Rio Cobre – that once happy river with its massive boulders, craggy limestone cliffs, herons dawdling by the riverside, fringed with rushes – must now be the most abused river in Jamaica and probably the Caribbean. It has been persistently and repeatedly polluted by the nearby bauxite plant operated by the West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) and owned by UC Rusal. Over and over. Promises have been made, over and over.

But it keeps happening like a recurring nightmare. Moreover, the actual processes undertaken are often shrouded in mystery; with environmental issues, transparency and lack of information is often a great challenge. This latest abuse has been described as “minor” by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) – which must take the prize for the worst-performing Jamaican government agency.

Perhaps there are not many fish left in the river to be killed, so it is indeed “minor.”

Here is a statement from Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), which has been monitoring the declining health of the river closely. We should be acutely aware that this is not a mere “environmental issue.” It is a “people issue,” a “livelihoods issue,” and indeed a “public health issue.”

Meanwhile, the smell of caustic fills the air. (Did NEPA take samples of the water before having it “neutralised”?) Don’t the Jamaican people deserve to know more about the condition of the river, especially those who depend on it for livelihoods? What about the children who used to enjoy bathing in the river – shouldn’t they know whether it is safe to do so? Not only the livelihoods, but the lifestyle that local residents hold dear has been ruined. They are being treated with contempt.

A sad sight: the pollution of a tributary of the Rio Cobre, which residents became aware of late last Friday night. Photo from JET’s Twitter account.

JET demands greater accountability following latest pollution incident in the Rio Cobre

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) expresses deep concern over yet another pollution incident in the Rio Cobre, despite assurances and measures implemented by the bauxite-alumina processing factory, WINDALCO, to safeguard the river against toxic discharges.

Following rainfall on the evening of March 1, 2024, toxic effluent was reported to have flowed into a tributary of the Rio Cobre. Although efforts were made to contain the effluent, the discovery of dead fish downstream on March 2, 2024, underscores the severity of the pollution. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), who described the incident as minor, instructed WINDALCO to neutralize the contaminated water to prevent further damage downstream.

In 2019, NEPA requested WINDALCO to expand its Effluent Holding Pond (EHP) following repeated pollution incidents in the Rio Cobre. The EHP captures effluent for recycling in the refinery’s process. WINDALCO received the permit in September 2020, with construction starting in January 2022. Completion was slated for December 2022, adding another~660,000 m³. Despite assurances, the second holding pond was not finished until August 2023. This was hailed as a milestone for environmental sustainability by the Ministry of Mining. WINDALCO was also required by NEPA to adopt ‘Best Available Technology’ to reduce waste and enhance bauxite residue disposal.

Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) said:

“We were assured that such an incident would never happen again, but here we are. Clearly, whatever measures that were put in place are not working. I cannot imagine what would have happened if there was heavier and continuous rainfall. Polluters must be held accountable. We must not be ok with the pollution of our rivers and environment.”

Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, Jamaica Environment Trust

JET is calling for the following:

·       The Government of Jamaica must promptly increase fines and penalties under the NRCA Act and the Wild Life Protection Act, as current penalties are insufficient to deter environmental violations.  

·       WINDALCO’s permits should be suspended until comprehensive measures are in place to prevent future pollution incidents.

·       NEPA should engage independent experts to assess the effectiveness of measures implemented by WINDALCO and ensure their adequacy.

·       Enhanced monitoring of the Rio Cobre is imperative, including the establishment of an automated waterway monitoring system for timely pollution detection.  

·       Greater transparency and the proactive dissemination of environmental information to the public.

JET remains committed to safeguarding Jamaica’s natural resources and calls upon all stakeholders to prioritize environmental protection and accountability.

Residents of Kent Village, St. Catherine, remove dead fish from the Rio Cobre in August 2021. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)