UC Rusal found guilty over 2019 Rio Cobre pollution

Bauxite mining company UC Rusal has been found guilty of causing trade effluent to flow into the Rio Cobre in St Catherine seven years ago.

The verdict was handed down on Monday in the St Catherine Parish Court, where the company was fined $100,000.

A company representative in court was advised that it must pay the fine by November 16.

Senior Parish Court Judge Desiree Alleyne ruled that a case was made out against the company. The prosecution of the case was initially led by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and was taken over and completed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

She told the three defence attorneys that, under Section 11 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the prosecution only had to establish that the company had knowledge of the breach.

UC Rusal was represented by attorneys-at-law Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, KC, Stephanie Ewbank and Ronaldo Richards

Under the law, the company has 14 days within which to file an appeal if it wants to challenge today’s decision by the court.

The court heard that between October 16 and 19, 2019, trade effluent from the Windalco plant overflowed into the Rio Cobre, resulting in a fish kill.

NEPA investigated the incident and subsequently prosecuted the company under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The case featured several court appearances by expert witnesses for both the prosecution and the defence.

- Rasbert Turner

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the company’s Managing Director was fined.

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