Environment preservation needs to be central to all development

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Hurricane Melissa should be a wake-up call to all Jamaicans – and especially to the Government – that climate change can erase generations of progress overnight. Protection of Jamaica’s forests, mangroves, watershed areas, rivers, and coral reefs must be central to every future development plan. Environmental laws must not only be strengthened, but aggressively enforced to safeguard the country’s long-term survival.

The destruction of extensive mangrove forests to build the Princess Hotel stands as a stark example of short-sighted planning. These mangroves once protected coastline, filtered silt, and provided critical breeding grounds for fish. Removing them traded the long-term well-being of future generations for temporary economic gain. It must ensured that the proposed large-scale development at Rhodes Hall, does repeat this mistake.

Instead, smaller, eco-friendly projects are far more appropriate for an island of Jamaica’s size and help preserve its unique natural charm.

The country needs lawmakers guided by science, who recognise that the nation’s greatest asset and true comparative advantage is its natural environment. Once degraded, no number of new hotels or flashy buildings can replace what attracts visitors to the island. Destinations with clean rivers, lush countryside, bird-filled forests, and wide, clear water beaches will dominate global tourism in the future.

Jamaica still possesses some of these treasures today, and they must be protected at all costs.

It is a matter of life and death for current and future generations that the boundaries of the Cockpit Country—the vital source of clean water for Western Jamaica — be expanded and permanently protected from mining and development. This protection must be enshrined in law, not renegotiated with every new administration.

Jamaica needs long-term, strategic planning focused on sustainability. The nation should not attempt to mimic the overdevelopment of wealthier countries, but instead preserve the natural assets that draw visitors and support a healthier, more resilient future for all.

C JOBSON

St Ann