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Resort row
Health minister orders report in dispute between Mammee Bay residents and Spanish hotelBY Balford Henry Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Health and Environment Minister Rudyard Spencer has instructed environmental and public health personnel within his ministry to review a dispute between the Spanish hotel chain RIU and residents of Mammee Bay over alleged environmental pollution by the resort and report to him by tomorrow.
"I need to have a report on the matter by Thursday so that we decide on how to resolve the issue expeditiously and appropriately," Spencer told the Observer Monday following a meeting with heads of departments and agencies dealing with environmental issues at his ministry.
Residents of the Mammee Bay Beach Club have accused the developers of the neighbouring 600-room Riu Hotel of breaching the Environmental Act and polluting the beach in the area.
Spokespersons for Mammee Bay have contended that since construction of the hotel started some two years ago, tests of the waste water polluting the beach have shown that the bacteria level was much higher than normal and was affecting the health of bathers.
RIU has not responded to the charges, and the chairman of the Mammee Bay Beach Club board, Ken Thompson, said recently that they have decided that the only option left to residents of the upscale resort development is to take RIU to court.
Following recent television coverage of the situation, Spencer summoned a meeting Monday of key government agencies and departments to discuss the concerns raised by the residents.
A release issued by the ministry after the meeting said that Minister Spencer had also instructed the agencies to provide recommendations on how to address the dispute between the two parties.
Spencer said that he was determined to take whatever action was necessary to protect the rights of Mammee Bay residents, as well as the developers of the Riu Hotel.
Agencies represented at the meeting included the National Environment and Planning Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Authority, National Works Agency, Environmental Health Unit, St Ann Parish Council and Health Department and the Local Government Department.
Health minister orders report in dispute between Mammee Bay residents and Spanish hotelBY Balford Henry Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Health and Environment Minister Rudyard Spencer has instructed environmental and public health personnel within his ministry to review a dispute between the Spanish hotel chain RIU and residents of Mammee Bay over alleged environmental pollution by the resort and report to him by tomorrow.
"I need to have a report on the matter by Thursday so that we decide on how to resolve the issue expeditiously and appropriately," Spencer told the Observer Monday following a meeting with heads of departments and agencies dealing with environmental issues at his ministry.
Residents of the Mammee Bay Beach Club have accused the developers of the neighbouring 600-room Riu Hotel of breaching the Environmental Act and polluting the beach in the area.
Spokespersons for Mammee Bay have contended that since construction of the hotel started some two years ago, tests of the waste water polluting the beach have shown that the bacteria level was much higher than normal and was affecting the health of bathers.
RIU has not responded to the charges, and the chairman of the Mammee Bay Beach Club board, Ken Thompson, said recently that they have decided that the only option left to residents of the upscale resort development is to take RIU to court.
Following recent television coverage of the situation, Spencer summoned a meeting Monday of key government agencies and departments to discuss the concerns raised by the residents.
A release issued by the ministry after the meeting said that Minister Spencer had also instructed the agencies to provide recommendations on how to address the dispute between the two parties.
Spencer said that he was determined to take whatever action was necessary to protect the rights of Mammee Bay residents, as well as the developers of the Riu Hotel.
Agencies represented at the meeting included the National Environment and Planning Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Authority, National Works Agency, Environmental Health Unit, St Ann Parish Council and Health Department and the Local Government Department.