Dear Editor,
The Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network (JEAN) has reviewed the Jamaica Labour Party's manifesto and while welcoming several aspects finds that it does not demonstrate a thorough understanding of the environmental issues facing Jamaica, or grapple with the cross-cutting nature of the issues.

JEAN welcomes the JLP's emphasis on improved governance and accountability, as JEAN believes that good governance would go a considerable way in halting environmental degradation. JEAN also welcomes the declaration that the Cockpit Country will be declared a no-mining zone and the promise made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bruce Golding, at the launch of the manifesto that civil society will be more involved in government decision making.
The environmental section is tacked on to local government and pledges as follows:

A "stand alone" National Environmental Authority with "statutory powers". How will this differ from the present manifestly ineffective NEPA? Does "stand alone" mean that the authority will not be subject to the decisions of an environment minister or any other member of the political executive? How will this agency relate to the one-stop development agency, outlined in the construction section, which proposes to shift the "burden of responsibility from the developer seeking approval to the authority registering objections"? Will there be an environmental ministry, or will the environment continue to share a ministry with other sectors, sometimes sectors which are in direct conflict with environmental principles? Will EIAs continue to be done by private firms working for private developers?

Sustainable development: What exactly is the JLP's concept of "sustainable development"? Will developments of all kinds, no matter how harmful, continue to be allowed in protected areas? What is meant by "conduct environmental audits"? Will sustainable development principles guide transport and energy policies? The manifesto contains some suggestions that conform with sustainable development principles (hybrid vehicles, resuscitation of the railroad) and others which do not (using coal for energy). Also, the manifesto fails to acknowledge the critical importance of forest conservation to environmental sustainability.

Public awareness: Considerable work has already been done to include environmental issues in relevant school curricula. This has not proved to be enough, however, as teachers may not have the required training, and the lessons learned at school are not reinforced in the wider community. Further, adult education, including at the political level, is also desperately needed.
Solid waste: The manifesto proposes 'waste to energy' plants. These must be approached with extreme caution as, unless properly managed, they simply convert solids to gases and result in compromised air quality.

The manifesto recognises the worldwide crisis of Global Warming by pledging to "ensure compliance with our obligations under the UN Convention of Climate Change". However, the document does not address the urgent need to control greenhouse gas emissions or indicate initiatives to deal with the inevitable escalation of hurricanes, floods, drought and sea-level rise. Nor does the section on disaster planning include some basic elements - such as requiring buildings to be set back prescribed distances from the sea.

Danielle Andrade
JEAN Secretariat
11 Waterloo Road
Kingston 10

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