Dear Editor,

The Blue Lagoon environmental debate is not about who is right but about what is right.

The “what” is determined entirely by necessary corrective action to restore the serious environmental damage done to one of Jamaica’s most important natural heritage sites.

The “who” is not important.

The fact of the matter is that nature sets its own rules and if a sensitive site is unduly disturbed, nature will fight back and the consequences may not be to anyone’s liking.

No amount of racial slurring or vulgar name-calling can correct the monumental damage caused by “wrong development”.

Environmental stalwart Diana McCaulay is to be heartily congratulated for having the courage to bring this appalling mistake to public attention before disaster multiplies disaster and the lagoon is no longer attractive to anyone, much less the owners of the land above or the lots that surround it.

The major problem is that subsequent natural and human movement across the imported beach sand (brought in for the “development”) is already being transferred to the waters of the Lagoon by human and storm movement, and after heavy rain, the sand is already roiling the waters of the lagoon, subsequently changing the colour, clarity and character.

The introduced walls of concrete create an unnatural solid barrier, blocking some of the underwater streams that have always fed the Lagoon with hot and cold fresh water.

Add to that the absence of original protective barriers of tall trees with their deep green colours and intact root systems, and the shoreline is subjected to unnatural soil run-offs where trees have been obviously clear cut to create a pathway from the top of the hill to the sea. Only the careful replacing and nurturing of endemic species of trees can stop this run-off.

Sadly, the developers may be well-meaning, but with no EIA or vigilance from NEPA they were obviously not successful in producing the ambience they may have intended.

Obviously mega beach parties where garbage is carelessly disposed of and faecal and other polluting material deposited directly into the water can spell major disaster and unsustainability for any kind of “development”, to say nothing of the health hazards involved.

Nature does not provide room for lies or excuses or name-calling.

If the authorites don’t take corrective action now, we may have to refer to this sad location as “the late great Lagoon” because it will no longer be blue.

Marguerite Gauron

Founder and President Emeritus

Portland Environment Protection Association

Port Antonio

hmgauron@gmail.com