Mangroves Destroyed in Palisadoes for Pipe Repair

Mangroves Destroyed in Palisadoes for Pipe Repair – Both the Jamaica Environment Trust and Shadow Minister on Land, Environment and Climate Change have condemned the destruction of mangroves in Palisadoes, Port Royal allegedly by the National Water Commission (NWC).

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) shared their growing concern about the continuous destruction of mangrove forests.  Reports made to the JET on the weekend of August 28 informed that mangroves in Port Royal were removed by the National Water Commission (NWC).

The NWC advised JET that a larger clearance than intended had to be done because they could not determine the exact location of the leak. Because this is a protected area, an environmental permit is required by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). JET, CEO Dr Theresa Rodriguez- Moodie says this was not granted therefore the clearance should not have been done without it.

Shadow minister on land, environment and climate change, Senator Sophia Frazer Binns in a release further condemns the destruction. She is encouraging a renewed effort to protect and rehabilitate mangrove ecosystems.

Further investigations will be done by NEPA into the issue.  Other reports were made to JET on mangrove removal in Trelawny to facilitate an expansion. This continuous destruction is something that senator Binns says is destructive, disheartening and deleterious to the environment.

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