The controversial National Environment and Planning Agency, NEPA, has received an overwhelming vote of no confidence from the readers of the Trafalgar Council Blog. Indeed in a poll conducted over 6 days, 71 percent of persons polled, indicated that the regulatory agency no longer enjoyed their confidence, versus 28 percent who expressed a degree of comfort. The remaining one percent expressed no views on the matter. Readers were responding to the question “ After being bombarded with criticism from Morant Point to Negril Point, does the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), continue to enjoy your confidence as a planning body?”
Since its inception on February 13, 2008, the Trafalgar Council Blog has conducted two polls among its growing readership base to derive a sense of public sentiment on some of the current issues at hand which can impact, negatively or positively on residential communities. Whereas these polls are not deemed to be scientific, in so far as it only polls those readers who choose to participate, it can be indicative of the public divide on some issues.
In the first poll the results were as follows:
Where urban planning is concerned, do you believe that the citizenry should have a greater say?
Yes - 78 %
No - 8 %
Don’t care - 13 %
However, the second poll was more specific in nature as it sought to assess the impact of concerns already being debated in the media about the activities of NEPA. This was deemed particularly significant, regarding the expressed concerns of several citizens associations and environmental associations, coupled with the substantial degree of controversy surrounding the approval granted for the development of a cemetery at Burnt Ground, Hanover. The results have been an overwhelming vote of note confidence in NEPA and continues to highlight the growing degree of public disaffection with the regulatory agency. This being particularly poignant at this time, as Prime Minister Bruce Golding, continues to propose the formation of a single regulatory body to address building approvals, in a time period not exceeding 90 days. According to the Golding strategy, if the regulatory body does not give a definitive answer in this 90 day timeline, the developer should then proceed as if approval had been granted.
This has been particularly worrisome in residential communities, which are under threat from creeping commercialization and flawed urban planning strategies, which continue to compromise property values. The Golding proposal, also remains ominously silent on the level of public consultation under the new dispensation, already a sore point between residents and NEPA. Part of the buffer mechanism at present, has been the intervention of the local authorities (Parish Councils), which, though lacking capacity (in terms of staffing and equipment), continue to play an important role in the regulatory process. However with the Golding one stop approach, it is apparent that the role of the Parish Council, would be minimised or obliterated from the building regulatory mechanism and persons fear that they will be left to the whimsical dictates of a strengthened NEPA.
Indeed for the Golding strategy to be successful, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for example, would have to be completed after detailed scientific and socio-economic investigation and equally detailed consultation with the citizenry, a process that currently takes up to 1 - 2 years, in less than 90 days. This begs the question “Is the Government willing to compromise scientific rigour and environmental imperatives on the altar of short term political expediency?”
Whereas, there are few who would not sympathize with the Prime Minister’s impatience for development, such development must be sustainable and due consideration given to the input of the citizenry, coupled with realistic and honest assessments, regarding the medium to long term impact of these proposed developments. In the early to mid-nineties, several financial entities embarked on a building and investment programme, which, while looking impressive on balance sheets, left many with an acute cash flow dilemma and were ultimately deemed reckless and in due course led to their closure. Caution must therefore be exercised, that in this due haste to push building projects, that history doesn’t repeat itself, leading to the decimation of the Jamaican Economy.
Since its inception on February 13, 2008, the Trafalgar Council Blog has conducted two polls among its growing readership base to derive a sense of public sentiment on some of the current issues at hand which can impact, negatively or positively on residential communities. Whereas these polls are not deemed to be scientific, in so far as it only polls those readers who choose to participate, it can be indicative of the public divide on some issues.
In the first poll the results were as follows:
Where urban planning is concerned, do you believe that the citizenry should have a greater say?
Yes - 78 %
No - 8 %
Don’t care - 13 %
However, the second poll was more specific in nature as it sought to assess the impact of concerns already being debated in the media about the activities of NEPA. This was deemed particularly significant, regarding the expressed concerns of several citizens associations and environmental associations, coupled with the substantial degree of controversy surrounding the approval granted for the development of a cemetery at Burnt Ground, Hanover. The results have been an overwhelming vote of note confidence in NEPA and continues to highlight the growing degree of public disaffection with the regulatory agency. This being particularly poignant at this time, as Prime Minister Bruce Golding, continues to propose the formation of a single regulatory body to address building approvals, in a time period not exceeding 90 days. According to the Golding strategy, if the regulatory body does not give a definitive answer in this 90 day timeline, the developer should then proceed as if approval had been granted.
This has been particularly worrisome in residential communities, which are under threat from creeping commercialization and flawed urban planning strategies, which continue to compromise property values. The Golding proposal, also remains ominously silent on the level of public consultation under the new dispensation, already a sore point between residents and NEPA. Part of the buffer mechanism at present, has been the intervention of the local authorities (Parish Councils), which, though lacking capacity (in terms of staffing and equipment), continue to play an important role in the regulatory process. However with the Golding one stop approach, it is apparent that the role of the Parish Council, would be minimised or obliterated from the building regulatory mechanism and persons fear that they will be left to the whimsical dictates of a strengthened NEPA.
Indeed for the Golding strategy to be successful, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for example, would have to be completed after detailed scientific and socio-economic investigation and equally detailed consultation with the citizenry, a process that currently takes up to 1 - 2 years, in less than 90 days. This begs the question “Is the Government willing to compromise scientific rigour and environmental imperatives on the altar of short term political expediency?”
Whereas, there are few who would not sympathize with the Prime Minister’s impatience for development, such development must be sustainable and due consideration given to the input of the citizenry, coupled with realistic and honest assessments, regarding the medium to long term impact of these proposed developments. In the early to mid-nineties, several financial entities embarked on a building and investment programme, which, while looking impressive on balance sheets, left many with an acute cash flow dilemma and were ultimately deemed reckless and in due course led to their closure. Caution must therefore be exercised, that in this due haste to push building projects, that history doesn’t repeat itself, leading to the decimation of the Jamaican Economy.
2 comments:
I'd love to know exactly how many people were polled and how representative these were of Golden Triangle/Trafalgar residents.
These results do not surprise me as the more we hear of NEPA's activities through the media the less credibility they seem to have. The stunts that they have been pulling with the people over the Burnt Ground cemetery in Hanover is just barefaced and callous and to think that a public agency would be playing games with something as serious as water supply.
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