Tag: St. Ann

The vexed issue of Jamaicans and their beaches

April 1, 2024

Some beaches in Jamaica are off limits to its citizens. Correction: many beaches. This is a fact. The issue of beach access remains a sore point for many Jamaicans; I have a feeling it will never be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, because so many beaches are actually reserved for tourists – and for Jamaicans who … More The vexed issue of Jamaicans and their beaches

Land of Wood and Water, or Land of Concrete and Congestion? A Jamaican biologist comments on the proposed Mammee River Development Project

February 2, 2024

Wendy Lee, who attended the January 11 public meeting on the proposed Mammee River Development Project convened by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), is a Jamaican citizen, a St. Ann resident, and a biologist and environmentalist with over 45 years of experience. Biodiversity, simply put, means the huge variety of life on Planet Earth that … More Land of Wood and Water, or Land of Concrete and Congestion? A Jamaican biologist comments on the proposed Mammee River Development Project

The public is invited to a consultation on a large housing project in St. Ann, Jamaica

January 10, 2024

I am putting the word out. Here comes another huge project, in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, that will have a major impact on the North coast (already overbuilt with mega-hotels and private villa developments) of Jamaica’s environment and implications for the preservation of Jamaica’s heritage. A public meeting will take place on Thursday, January 11. … More The public is invited to a consultation on a large housing project in St. Ann, Jamaica

Has the Jamaican Government responded to the IACHR regarding human rights of citizens near bauxite mines?

January 4, 2023

I rarely “copy and paste” editorials or articles in our local newspapers, if at all. However, I see this Sunday Gleaner editorial, published on January 1, as related to a recent post – where I pointed out that, as it appears, the Jamaican Government has not yet responded to Resolution 65/22 of the Inter American … More Has the Jamaican Government responded to the IACHR regarding human rights of citizens near bauxite mines?

On the Rio Cobre, Cockpit Country, and their Jamaican people

December 21, 2022

As the year draws to a close, there are more issues hanging in the balance. I sometimes feel the future of the Planet, including our small, sometimes green, rocky island, is in the balance, too. As the delegates to COP15 – the critical UN conference on biodiversity – pack up their laptops, check out of … More On the Rio Cobre, Cockpit Country, and their Jamaican people

Urgent statement re: mining-related activities in SML173 – Cockpit Country, Jamaica

November 19, 2022

The lobby group Freedom Imaginaries is raising the alarm. Please read their statement below carefully. This morning I attended a conference which provided valuable updates on the Kingston Harbour Ecosystem Adaptation Measures Project (KHEAM). This impressive project, spearheaded by the GraceKennedy Foundation, embraces several partners and is ensuring full community involvement and buy-in. I met … More Urgent statement re: mining-related activities in SML173 – Cockpit Country, Jamaica

For Jamaica’s children and adolescents: Issa Trust Foundation plans a new clinic with a holistic approach

August 21, 2022

Philanthropy is alive and well in Jamaica; but the need is great. Our vulnerable children and adolescents need help. On the north coast of the island, the Issa Trust Foundation (which has been working in Jamaica for the past 17 years) is planning to make a difference to their physical and mental wellbeing by building … More For Jamaica’s children and adolescents: Issa Trust Foundation plans a new clinic with a holistic approach

“They’ve left us to eat stones now:” The latest Vice News film on the impacts of bauxite mining in Jamaica

May 2, 2022

Last month, the U.S.-based Vice News posted a second video on the community response to bauxite mining in Jamaica. The Jamaica Environment Trust is reminding us to watch it; the YouTube link is here. The 20-minute report is a follow-up to their 2021 feature, which you can find here. As of May 2, the video … More “They’ve left us to eat stones now:” The latest Vice News film on the impacts of bauxite mining in Jamaica

JET acknowledges the declaration of the Cockpit Country Protected Area, but..

March 23, 2022

On March 17, during the Budget Debate in Parliament, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the Cockpit Country Protected Area has now been officially designated and gazetted. Is that the end of this long story, with its many twists and turns? Well, not quite. You can find the Environmental Impact Assessments on the National Environment … More JET acknowledges the declaration of the Cockpit Country Protected Area, but..