Letter of the Day | Fort Rocky: One year later, still no answers

THE EDITOR, Madam:

On March 13, 2025, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) issued clear instructions to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) regarding works carried out on lands adjacent to Fort Rocky within the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area (P-PRPA).

The works, which took place on or before March 5, 2025, reportedly intended to facilitate a parking area, took place within a designated protected area established under Section 5(1)(b) of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act, 1991, and the Natural Resources Conservation (Protected Areas) Regulations, 2023. It resulted in the removal of coastal vegetation and the bulldozing of sand dunes - natural features that help protect the shoreline from erosion and storm surge.

In response, NEPA directed that all works cease immediately, that a rehabilitation plan be submitted to restore the disturbed sand dunes, that restoration activities commence within a specified timeframe after approval, and that the necessary environmental permits be obtained before any further activity. The use of the area was also strictly prohibited.

As the managers of the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area, NEPA also has a duty to ensure that these directives are enforced and that the integrity of the area is maintained.

A visit to the site by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) on February 17, 2026, almost one year after the initial works, suggests that while some natural regeneration may be occurring, the area remains largely unchanged. The site is now enclosed by a chain-link fence, restricting access to the coastline.

Then, on February 19, 2026, JET wrote to NEPA seeking an update on several outstanding matters, including the status of an investigation report which was promised, whether rehabilitation had been completed, whether an environmental permit had been applied for and granted, and whether any enforcement action or sanctions had been imposed on the JNHT. To date, no meaningful response has been received, despite additional requests made via social media.

This lack of clarity speaks to a broader concern about accountability in environmental governance - particularly when state entities are involved. Last year, 34 civil society organisations publicly called for stronger accountability for both public and private environmental violators, highlighting persistent gaps in enforcement and transparency.

Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust. Public agencies, like private violators, must be held accountable. Importantly, the NRCA Act covers government agencies too. The JNHT cannot escape responsibility, and NEPA must act to enforce its own rules.

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT

TRUST