Portland PC still pondering Pellew Island project

BY PETRE WILLIAMS-RAYNOR Environment editor williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE Portland Parish Council has yet to take a decision on the controversial development proposed for the iconic Pellew Island in the parish, more than six months after a new application was submitted for its consideration.

According to the council, no final decision can be taken before public consultation to air the details of the new proposal and invite feedback from stakeholders.

"Pellew Island remains the same... The only difference is that we had indicated to the developer that they need to have a consultation meeting. It was slated to have been held on the 14th of December, but JET (the Jamaica Environment Trust ) got involved," Joan Thomas, secretary manager for the council, told the Sunday Observer.

"They wrote to the council advising that they were not knowledgeable of such a meeting. We subsequently contacted the developer and because they were not advised properly — albeit an ad was placed in the paper — persons did not know of that meeting. So the developers decided to postpone that meeting. Until that meeting is held, then there is really no new development with Pellew Island," she added.

Efforts to reach the developer, Beverley Barakat, proved futile up to press time.

Of course, Thomas said the outcome of the meeting, though important, would not be the only determinant for approval.

"They [the developers] need to consult with the people. They need to tell the people within the area what the development is all about, how it will impact them, and get the views of the people. It is a requirement in order for us to further consider any kind of approval... It does not determine whether they will get approved," she said.

The developers also face the hurdle of the preservation notice, dated December 5, 2011, which notes the Jamaica National Heritage Trust's intention to have the 14,000-plus metres square area comprising the Blue Lagoon, also called Blue Hole — of which Pellew Island forms a part — declared a national monument.

The notice effectively puts Pellew Island, also known as Monkey Island, off limits to development, at least for the next four or so months.

"Except with written consent, this structure shall not be demolished or removed, no additions or alterations shall be made to this structure, nor shall any work be carried out in connection with such additions or alterations," reads a section of the notice, which runs for six months from the date of issue.

Meanwhile, Thomas would provide no indication as to whether the council is inclined to give its stamp of approval to the proposed development.

"I really can't tell you what will be the outcome of that case; it is a process," she said.

"There are a lot of concerns and all of those concerns will be taken into consideration when we are making our recommendations for approval. The concerns that the council has, have been placed in writing and sent to the developer," Thomas added.

The new application proposes the construction of one four-bedroom and one three-bedroom cottage, according to information gleaned from the National Environment and Planning Agency last year.

This reflects a scaling down from the seven-bedroom and four-bedroom villas that were initially proposed and detailed in the 2008 Environment Impact Assessment report prepared by consultants Caribbean Ecosystems Limited.

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Portland PC still pondering Pellew Island project