JAMAICANS now have greater access to information about infrastructure developments and their environmental impact, following the launch last night of a new interactive website — Development Alert! — created by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), World Resources Institute, and the Access Initiative, with support from software developers Blue Raster of the United States.

The website uses an interactive GIS map of Jamaica to provide easy-to-understand information about recently approved or proposed highways, housing projects, hotel developments, energy projects, water abstraction, forest removal, and mining that are likely to have significant health, environmental, social or cultural impact. The map, which also shows Jamaica’s protected areas, should give citizens and communities the opportunity to influence key decision-making through access to better information, JET said.

“Development Alert! sets the stage for new ways to formally engage in the public review process for developments using the latest web technology”, said Carole Excell, project director of the Access Initiative, World Resources Institute. “People can now see the development projects that affect their lives, which will encourage them to get involved and have a voice. This will support more inclusive decision-making,” she added.

Development Alert! was created with information obtained from the Government of Jamaica, using the Access to Information Act. The website allows citizens to learn about projects before a decision is made to approve or reject them. The dates of public meetings to discuss proposed projects are also on the site as well as contact information for the relevant government institutions which can be contacted with questions, comments and concerns. The site also allows users to sign up for e-mail alerts on specific locations or projects.

“Development Alert! includes detailed information on the controversial Goat Island port, including information on the current geo-technical survey for the transshipment port and copies of all associated documents.

“We anticipate that the website will reduce secrecy in decisions made about the use of natural resources and stimulate greater public discourse and participation in development issues”, said Danielle Andrade, legal director of JET, at the launch held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.

According to JET, while the organisation will maintain the website and update it as new projects come on stream, it has been conceptualised as a people’s platform where anyone can upload information on projects that they see happening in their neighbourhood. This, it said, will also help bring attention to illegal projects that may have started without the approval from the relevant authorities.