THE government, under pressure from environmentalists and other interest groups, yesterday suspended all licences allowing prospecting for bauxite in the Cockpit Country.

Agriculture and Lands Minister Roger Clarke, who on Thursday defended the granting of the exclusive prospecting lease to Alcoa and Clarendon Alumina production, announced the government’s decision yesterday to suspend the licences.

He said a meeting was being arranged with the environmentalists, mining interests and relevant government agencies.

“I am moving to have the licences suspended and next week we will be meeting with all the parties to come to some reasonable agreement,” Clarke said yesterday.

At the same time, the minister announced that a third lease granted to an unnamed entity for the prospecting of limestone in the Cockpit Country was revoked.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the National Resources Conservation Authority and the Underground Water Authority are some of the government agencies expected to meet with bauxite companies and various environmental groups next week to discuss the concerns that were raised by the environmentalists.

The suspension of the leases signalled a minor victory for the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group which had said the government had snubbed its requests for dialogue on the issue of prospecting and mining in the region.

But head of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), Diana McCaulay, said she was viewing the latest development with guarded optimism.

“We are glad that Minister Clarke has listened to the voices of concern and we look forward to the meeting. We hope the area is declared a no-mining zone,” McCaulay told the Observer yesterday.

McCaulay was on Thursday among a group of environmentalists who had vowed to take their objection to mining in the Cockpit Country to as far as the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, if necessary.

Yesterday, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, in a statement, said a government under his leadership would revoke all licences allowing prospecting in the Cockpit Country and declare the area a no-mining zone.

Golding criticised government’s handling of the issue, calling it reckless and deceptive and said that even if bauxite reserves were found in the Cockpit Country a JLP government would not allow mining in the area.

Head of the Northern Jamaica Conservation Association, Wendy Lee, yesterday described the Cockpit Country as a world treasure and implored the government to ensure that its resources are managed properly.

“The area has all kinds of wonderful resources and we want to make sure that the best use is made of these resources,” Lee said.

– walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com