THE Jamaica Caves Organisation (JCO) is hopping mad over the failure of Alpart and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to attend a fact-finding field trip organised by them two Saturdays ago to highlight the negative effects of bauxite mining on caves in South Manchester.

Stefan Stewart, head of the Jamaica Caves Association (JCO), descends into the mouth of Logan's Hole 2, an unexplored sinkhole which residents of May Day district in Manchester pointed the JCO representatives to. The JCO is actively trying to raise awareness about the importance of sinkholes to the environment, and their role in effective drainage. (Photo: Gregory Bennett)

"We are very disappointed that they chose not to show up. It shows that they have no regard for the natural heritage and resources of this country," Stefan Stewart, head of the JCO, told the Sunday Observer.
The JCO says it's concerned about Smokey Hole, a sinkhole in Cross Keys, Manchester, where bauxite mining is slated to begin soon. Smokey Hole is Jamaica's deepest known sinkhole and serves as a major drainage for that section of Manchester during heavy downpours.

Head of public relations at Alpart, Lance Neita, denies that Alpart is unwilling to meet with the JCO.
"We have signalled our intention to meet with them, but we could not meet them at the time they suggested. We have received their report and we are now looking into their concerns," Neita told the Sunday Observer.

But Neita's argument seemed to hold little water with Stewart, a Canadian, who says the bauxite company is sidestepping the issue. Stewart left the island on May 18, and will return in late July.

"We offered to meet with them anytime before the 18th as I would leave the island on that day," Stewart said. "They said they could not meet us until the 20th. That seems like they are dodging," he added.
For her part, bio-diversity co-ordinator at NEPA, Andrea Donaldson, expressed regret that she did not make the field trip.

"It is regrettable, but the logistics of the situation did not allow me to attend. I would have loved to have seen it and gone into the sinkhole," added Donaldson, who promised to be present at an expedition planned for early August.

Meanwhile, Stewart said the JCO had requested that the miners leave a 250-foot sterile area around the mouth of Smokey Hole to prevent bauxite waste and boulders being dumped inside the hole.
At least six known sinkholes in areas of the parish that have already been mined have disappeared while several others have been seriously damaged by land reclamation and the dumping of garbage by residents.

"The deepest cave in Jamaica continues to be under serious threat of destruction. Alpart has refused to meet with us until after they have met with the regulatory agencies. We remain hopeful that Alpart will see the wisdom in protecting this important part of Jamaica's natural heritage, as there is little financial loss involved, but if they do not, we will not give up," Stewart said.

According to Stewart, with the exception of the parish of St Ann, there are no environmental regulations governing caves and sinkholes.
"We hope that they will use their social conscience and not destroy Smokey just because there are no laws to prevent them," Stewart said.

During the field trip, a number of residents from Cross Keys expressed fears that their homes and farms would be flooded if the bauxite miners do not heed the warning and continue to plug the sinkhole with boulders.

"If it wasn't for Smokey we woulda wash away. During Emily, if yu hear the sound of the water rushing in from miles away a come towards we. Smokey just swallow up all of it, and a so come we never flood out," a resident of Cross keys, who gave his name as Christopher, said.

"We know how important this sinkhole is to our community and we hope that they take heed," he added.
Smokey Hole is so named because of the mist which rises out of the sinkhole. The residents say there is a rock formation inside that resembles a dining room, complete with tables and chairs.
More than 2,000 bats and other troglophytes - cave-dwelling organisms - inhabit Smokey Hole.

At the same time, the lack of support for the fact-finding mission allowed the cavers to explore other sections of South Manchester for additional sinkholes. Their search led them to the district of May Day, where residents showed them Logan's Hole 2, a previously unexplored sinkhole.

The find excited Stewart, who plans to explore the hole when he returns to the island.
Preliminary tests to gauge the depth of Logan's Hole 2 were unsuccessful, as a 300-foot rope used by the climbers failed to hit the bottom.

The entrance of the hole is surrounded by thick brush and an assortment of trees. There was also a variety of birds, including tobies and hummingbirds.
"This could end up to be the deepest sinkhole yet, so we are very excited," Stewart said.

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