Wheatley wants NRCA board sacked for approving of Negril breakwater project

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 | 6:54 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, has called for the sacking of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority’s (NRCA) board of directors following an announcement that they granted approval for two “highly controversial” off-shore breakwaters to be built in the Long Bay area of Negril, Westmoreland.

The NRCA board is chaired by former People’s National Party’s (PNP) MP, John Junor and comprises directors including Dr Carol Archer and PNP Councillor Kari Douglas.

According to Wheatley, the NRCA Board’s decision runs counter to its mandate, which is to provide for the management, conservation and protection of the natural resources of Jamaica. He noted that the NRCA did not sufficiently take into account the views of members of the Negril community and experts here and overseas who have “consistently, loudly and factually” rubbished the breakwater proposal.

He said beyond that, Negril stakeholders have put forward serious proposals that are less expensive, more effective and environmentally friendly.

Wheatley, in a release Tuesday afternoon, restated the Opposition’s position that beach nourishment is the preferred approach to rehabilitating the Negril shoreline. The Opposition spokesman said he has no choice but to “seriously question the government’s motives in its mad rush to pursue what is a dubious, risky and very expensive plan.”

He said that among his main concerns are the absence of a comprehensive Economic Impact study into the effects of pursuing the highly technical and disruptive project that the Government says will run for several months.

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Wheatley wants NRCA board sacked for approving of Negril breakwater project

TEF mulls new ambulance for Negril

NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill says the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is willing to provide the resort town of Negril with a new ambulance, providing a proper management system is implemented to govern the use of the vehicle.

“The chairman (TEF) in discussion with me has indicated that they are willing to look at the ambulance. It is an important thing. However, there has to be some discussions here [in Negril] about the management of it [ambulance] and I have spoken to persons in the community. I have spoken to the chairman [Negril Resort Board, Cliff Reynolds] and some proposals will go to TEF who are the persons who would donate the ambulance,” McNeill explained.

He was addressing the monthly meeting of the Negril Resort Board at the Rayon Hotel, in Negril, last Thursday.

The resort town is currently without a working ambulance following an accident in which it overturned more than four months ago.

Following the accident, a decision was later taken by the Negril Resort Board, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and the Negril Chamber of Commerce for a submission to be made to the TEF for a replacement vehicle.

The TEF had four years ago provided funding to the tune of US$61,000 for the purchase of the ambulance that was involved in the accident.

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TEF mulls new ambulance for Negril