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**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 07:01 AM

More Questions Than Answers On Goat Islands
Published: Friday | February 28, 2014 0 Comments
Diana McCaulay, GUEST COLUMNIST
Diana McCaulay, GUEST COLUMNIST
This is an open letter to Dr Omar Davies, minister of transport and works.

We have read your statement to Parliament on February 25, 2014 on the proposal for China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to construct a port and industrial park in the Portland Bight Protected Area, in the vicinity of the Goat Islands. We have the following questions and observations:

1. The Jamaican public still does not know what due diligence was done to select this site, what other sites were considered, and the reasons for rejection. Since this project was first announced in August 2013, various experts, including a past president of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers, have called into question the suitability of this location and suggested alternative sites. Has the Government asked CHEC to consider other sites for the proposed port? Is it that CHEC is only interested in the Goat Islands for the construction of the port?

2. There has still been no response from the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) to the errors contained in the Environmental Management Scoping Study (EMSR), which were identified in November 2013 by eight agencies and two scientists from the University of the West Indies. It appears that, despite these errors, you continue to rely on this flawed study.

In brief, the errors and omissions of the EMSR were - cursory literature review, scant field observations, inadequate consultation with critical stakeholders, inaccuracies in descriptions of the rare, threatened and endangered species, a too narrow concentration on the Goat Islands themselves (we now know that a large proportion of this development will be on the mainland, so this omission is especially serious), and a proposal for mitigation measures that are not feasible.

3. The details of the project as laid out in your presentation confirm the en-vironmentally devastating nature of this port for the coast of a protected area, including the construction of a coal-fired plant. The serious public health impacts of coal as a source of energy are extremely well documented. It is ironic that the GOJ would consider this in view of its emphasis on the threat presented to Jamaica by climate change and its establishment of a Ministry of Climate Change!

4. We note the emphasis on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, but much is going to depend on the quality of the EIA, the amount of time that is allowed for this to be properly done, and in the event of approval, the resources and political will to monitor and enforce permit conditions. The issues of alternatives and cumulative impacts are generally weak in Jamaican EIAs and it is these issues which are of critical importance in this case.

5. Despite your assurances to the contrary, public consultation and transparency remain inadequate. The Government has denied all of the requests that the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has made under the Access to Information Act. To be more specific, our request for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Port Authority and CHEC and the proposals and draft agreement proposed by CHEC have been exempted from disclosure on the grounds that the logistics hub initiative is a central plank to Jamaica's growth strategy and that the Government's growth strategy influences the monetary policy.

In your previous statement to Parliament on September 10, 2013, you stated, "We invite those who have already taken a position in opposition to the project to place in the public domain some alternatives which would simultaneously protect the natural environment and assist the population." The documents denied to us likely contain information that would allow us and other interested stakeholders to propose suitable alternatives to Goat Islands.

6. You state that you have met with all the environmental protection agencies. We do not know to which agencies you refer. You have not included JET in these consultations. In addition, we can say with certainty that the communities in proximity to the Old Harbour and Goat Islands aspects of this project are still clamouring for more detailed information.

7. The net benefits to Jamaica of this project remain poorly articulated. If we are going to destroy a significant natural area protected under four different Jamaican laws and two international conventions, it should not be for crumbs.

8. We note the existence of an Initial Framework Agreement (IFA) between CHEC and the GOJ and, notwithstanding the response that we received from the Port Authority to our request for a copy of the MOU, we will be requesting a copy of the IFA under the Access to Information Act in the usual manner.

Diana McCaulay is CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jamentrust@cwjamaica.com.

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 07:07 AM

And check this from Page 4 of the minister's speech: "Citizenship - review applicable laws, policy and procedure in light of possible request for citizenship from investors within the project area." If we provide Jamaican citizenship to thousands of Chinese workers, then Jamaicans will be working in the logistics hub. Right?

MI NUH INNA NUH HUB........GANJA MI A DEAL WID ....a man ask mi why mi rate di weed ,why yuh rate di hub ?

Governments acting as entrepreneurs are reflected in their ability to act in new and innovative ways and their willingness to undertake policy actions that have uncertain outcomes. One of such policy actions that have far-reaching entrepreneurial effects is whether or not to regulate the marijuana market. This paper examines the savings that could be accrued if the marijuana market in Jamaica was regulated- savings from the Constabulary and Correctional Services Departments with the elimination of enforcement costs, as well as income that could be earned if marijuana was taxed like other goods. This paper estimates that in 2011 enforcement costs (marijuana arrests, prosecutions and incarceration expenses) in Jamaica were approximately J$12.2 billion in government expenditure; between J$473 million - J$665 million annually could be earned if marijuana was taxed like normal goods and between J$1.5 billion – J$2.3 billion if marijuana was taxed at rates similar to those on cigarettes and alcohol. An additional US$14 billion could be earned if companies were allowed to export marijuana and then were taxed. This paper will contribute additional knowledge on the value of marijuana production in Jamaica, in terms of the amount of revenues that can be earned from the export of marijuana. It will also discuss the implications for both future academic research and public policy. Keywords: Government as entrepreneurs, regulated marijuana market.

Clink on link for paper

http://sbaer.uca.edu/research/ICSB/2013/65.pdf

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 07:50 AM

We cede land
We cede visa
We cede citizenships

Do you think we will cede Jobs ?

Mi nuh inna nuh hub ting !

Governments acting as entrepreneurs are reflected in their ability to act in new and innovative ways and their willingness to undertake policy actions that have uncertain outcomes. One of such policy actions that have far-reaching entrepreneurial effects is whether or not to regulate the marijuana market. This paper examines the savings that could be accrued if the marijuana market in Jamaica was regulated- savings from the Constabulary and Correctional Services Departments with the elimination of enforcement costs, as well as income that could be earned if marijuana was taxed like other goods. This paper estimates that in 2011 enforcement costs (marijuana arrests, prosecutions and incarceration expenses) in Jamaica were approximately J$12.2 billion in government expenditure; between J$473 million - J$665 million annually could be earned if marijuana was taxed like normal goods and between J$1.5 billion – J$2.3 billion if marijuana was taxed at rates similar to those on cigarettes and alcohol. An additional US$14 billion could be earned if companies were allowed to export marijuana and then were taxed. This paper will contribute additional knowledge on the value of marijuana production in Jamaica, in terms of the amount of revenues that can be earned from the export of marijuana. It will also discuss the implications for both future academic research and public policy. Keywords: Government as entrepreneurs, regulated marijuana market.

Clink on link for paper

http://sbaer.uca.edu/research/ICSB/2013/65.pdf

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 09:10 AM

How many times mi haffi tell yuh..

Dis is NOT a Hub ting.. dis is a Chiney Ting...

CHEC Mate...

Nuh mek Don1 trick unnuh aftah him get trick !

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 09:31 AM

Raise the level this is a national security issue that Holness cannot leverage for political gain? Is he that aloof ?...An issue like this usher governments out of power .Instead of talking about Portia plane fare ,he needs to be asking questions like Espuet as it pertains to citizenship and jobs ....Also of course ganja.

14 to 16 % unemployment 375000 and we begging 10,000 supposed jobs that will go to Chinese visa/citizenized Jamaicans.

Get Tufton or Shaw.

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 11:11 AM

raise the level ?

ah wheh di ?!

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 01:46 PM

Davies: Goat Islands project needs another five years
BY BALFORD HENRY Senior staff reporter balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, February 28, 2014 25 Comments

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DAVIES... the port is not expected to be engaged in trans-shipment activities for several years yet

MINISTER of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies says there is no likelihood of China's proposed Goat Islands investment coming on stream within five years.

"The port is not expected to be engaged in trans-shipment activities for several years yet," Dr Davies told the House of Representatives, in a statement on Tuesday.

"It will require time for technical development after the signing of the implementation and concession agreements prior to the start of construction, and another period for construction," he stated.

"Assuming that the agreements will be concluded about a year from now, the port will not be in operation for approximately four years. It is also expected to be limited in scope at the start," he added.

Davies, who was speaking on the issue of competition between the Chinese proposed development, and the planned privatisation of the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT), noted that, on the other hand, the KCT concessionaire will be acquiring a going concern with excess capacity and with the ability for that capacity to be expanded within a short timeframe through changes to the equipment at the terminal.

He said that the lead time prior to the start-up of the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) terminal was more than sufficient for a global terminal operator to establish the necessary volumes and to entrench itself in the regional maritime trading arrangements.

He explained that the CHEC project is, first and foremost, an industrial complex with an associated port to support the activities of the zone.

"The port will be a mixed-use facility. It is proposed that it will house the assembly plant for cranes and other port-related equipment. It will also serve as the home base for CHEC's dredging and harbour-building equipment, for use in projects throughout the hemisphere," he stated.

Dr Davies said that it was essential for all Jamaicans hearing his presentation to appreciate the following:

* Even if Jamaica did not pursue the CHEC proposal, the company is likely to implement the project elsewhere in the region, and there are many countries willing to accept an offer from CHEC to develop the industrial complex and port in their country;

* The global pattern is for major shipping lines (and in particular the integrated arrangements among the major carriers, such as the P3 arrangement between the top three lines) to have their own terminals. It is not usual to have more than two of the top lines being managed out of a single terminal. The fact that Jamaica may have two terminals would serve the country in good stead in establishing itself as the major trans-shipment terminal in this region; and

* The model of development for the terminals is expected to be different and no overlap is envisaged.

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 01:49 PM

and ?

Mi seh fi stap chat bout di Chiney Island project.. if you want to debate the Logistics Hub project for Jamaica.. stick to what is outlined for development of KMR region including the KCT and the proposed CEZ in Caymanas.

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 01:56 PM

You & Don can debate dat ! I only present information , not into the pettyness of the naming of Tommato or Tomato,same fruit,same taste.....bitter!

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 02:07 PM

But why are you making the 2 things mutually exclusive ????

Ganja need di Hub !

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 02:15 PM

Seriously the question is our interest being represented ? That is the problem with us , we get lost in semantics while issues on national interest get swept under the rug.

Why ? .......when are we going to drive nail into relevant topics, be it Hub,Ganja,Garrisonisation,Human rights etc,they are all intertwined.....wi nuh narmal.....e.g unemployment has a figure its between 14 to 16 % which means it has a number 375,000 (that doesnt factor in those not looking,because they only factor in those job seekers).Ganja arrest has a number billions from the penal system.Police brutality has a number ,our organisations lack data to promote their agenda....

Instead wi get stuck on word play to dismiss progressive movements as pie in the sky......wi nuh narmal.....wi majour in yapping !

What is 10,000 jobs ?

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 02:19 PM

10,000 is the TOTAL jobs.

Why yuh counting di Chiney ? Wheh yuh seh dem count as Jamaican after dem get dem citizenship ?

**Sir X** · February 28, 2014, 02:23 PM

If Holness cant make this a political issue,he needs to go,the plot is out in black and white,we need Shaw or Tufton or some revolting PNP-ite to scream treason.

My blood boils.

**Muadib** · February 28, 2014, 02:51 PM

Why Bruce tell di Chiney fi chuck off and Omar seh come eeen... ?

JLPNP nuh compute here suh.. wheh Don2 fi explain ?..

Is wikid Bruce wikid ? Sen chiney guh Fort Augusta !

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