IT could be another four months before the public hears whether the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will give its stamp of approval to the controversial Pellew Island development in Portland.

This following last Thursday’s public consultation meeting, held in the parish, on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) that was done on the project.

Caribbean Ecosystems Limited prepared the EIA report, which notes that the proposed development will see the construction of two villas – one with seven bedrooms and the other with four.

“The only timeline considered is the 90-day processing period. That is, NEPA has 90 days within which to process applications, make recommendations to the Board and to advise the applicant on the outcome,” NEPA told Environment Watch in a written response to queries as to when it will make a decision about the development. “The EIA process is not included in the 90-day processing timeline. For applications, which require EIAs, the project proponent/consultant is required to submit to NEPA a copy of the verbatim report of the public presentation within seven days of the date of the meeting. The public has 30 days from the date of the public consultation to communicate any concerns or raise any objections about the proposed development to the Agency.”

NEPA added that where EIAs are concerned, as in this instance, a particular procedure is followed. It includes:

. documenting the public participation programme for the project;

. describing the public participation methods, timing, type of information to be provided to the public, and stakeholder target groups;

. summarising the issues identified during the public participation process; and

. discussing the public input that has been incorporated into the proposed project design and environmental management systems.

Once completed, NEPA then passes the file to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) board, for a final decision.

The environmental regulatory agency said that its final decision would be based on two sets of factors – environmental impacts of the project; and concerns of the public and relevant stakeholders and any other issues deemed relevant by the NRCA.

Concerns over the project abound, notably from environmental lobbyists who insist Pellew Island should remain untouched.

“It (the development) is ill-conceived and I am surprised the Government regulatory agencies have even entertained the application – never mind that they might give it permission,” Peter Espeut, pastoral administrator at St Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, and past executive director of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, told Environment Watch in April. “It is just unthinkable that we should do this.”

His sentiments were echoed by others, including Danielle Andrade, legal director for the Jamaica Environment Trust. She noted that Pellew Island should not be disturbed because not only is it an iconic landmark in Portland used to market the parish as a tourist destination for years but also because the development is likely to have significant environmental impacts during the construction and operation phase on the coral reef.

The local community, too, has come out against the development, according to information out of NEPA, which reported on the outcome of last Thursday’s public consultation on the project.

“Many persons had serious concerns regarding the effect of the project on Pellew Island. Given the iconic value of the location – particularly for Port Antonio,” the agency said. “Many participants were of the view that the project represented a threat to the livelihood of those persons who transport tourists to and from the island. Persons also had negative views about the effect that the proposed development of Pellew Island would have on the coral, seagrass and overall aesthetics of the Island.”

There was, however, at least one person who supported the development, the agency added.

“(The person) supported the development from the perspective that it would provided much needed employment in the area, especially considering the closure of the Dragon Bay Hotel and the attendant displacement of workers,” NEPA noted.

Meanwhile, the EIA report says the design concept for the development “envisages an old Jamaica/Balinese-style of architecture with clinker board exteriors, thatched covered copper alloy roofs, high ceilings, wrap-around verandas, demerara windows and poured coloured concrete and wooden floors, in the appropriate areas”.

The two villas, the report added, will be on the north-east and north-west of the island. Both will be entered from a central common area, with circulation paths radiating from this area, wrapping around the villas to the shoreline of the island. All the existing trees will be retained in the proposed landscaping design.

“The island will be accessed by boat, an electric-powered glass-bottom boat or bamboo raft, from the reception area located directly south of the island on land alongside the main road at 43 San San main road west, of the Blue Lagoon Villas,” the report said. “A jetty and a small four-vehicle parking lot will be constructed at the reception area. Each villa will have its own pier for individual access to each villa.”

Beverley Barakat-Haddad owns the land on which the development is to be sited, and construction work is to be undertaken by Millingen Architects.