A picture taken from the Bog Walk Bridge on last December which shows what appears to be oil pollution in the Rio Cobre. (Photo: Phillip Foster)
KINGSTON, Jamaica— The People’s National Party (PNP) has expressed concern following reports that the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has decided not to prosecute Trade Winds Citrus Limited for the oil spill in the Rio Cobre last year.
It is reported that the case was withdrawn after a confidential agreement was reached between NEPA, Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) and Trade Winds Citrus Limited prior to a court hearing Wednesday morning.
NEPA launched an investigation following an oil spill in the Rio Cobre in December 2023. The government agency later disclosed that a malfunctioning boiler from the old Jamaica Beverage Plant, now owned and operated by Trade Winds Citrus Limited, was the source of the oil spill.
READ: Defective boiler at Trade Winds Citrus the source of oil spill in Rio Cobre – NEPA
Shadow Minister on Environment and Ecological Heritage, Senator Sophia Frazer Binns, said given the lack of transparency in the matter, she is questioning the reasons behind the decision to discontinue the case. She also demands that NEPA publicly discloses the reason behind withdrawing the case.
“We are deeply concerned that the basis of the decision remains unknown, especially to the residents of the Bog Walk Community who were directly affected by the pollution of the river. We also wish to ascertain whether the citizens whose rights were directly affected were consulted before the agreement with the company was made by NRCA/NEPA,” Senator Binns said.
She added that “transparency and good governance demand that this agreement be shared with the public, particularly with the affected residents.”
The senator further stated that the secretive way the outcome of prosecution was reached, raises questions about the message of impunity being sent to people whose aberrant practices contribute to the destruction of the environment. She further questioned whether it will serve to embolden others to act with reckless disregard for citizen’s rights and environmental protections.
“The residents of Bog Walk and the wider society deserve assurances that the NRCA/NEPA remain committed to safeguarding the environment and upholding their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment,” the PNP said, while calling for NEPA and the NRCA to provide full disclosure on the matter.