NEGRIL, Hanover – The Negril Chamber of Commerce (NCC) is expressing its happiness with the decision of the Cabinet to terminate the project to build two large breakwaters in Negril.

According to the NCC, the majority of the community were against this project and remained resolute and persistent in voicing their concerns on the negative impacts this would have.

“The resistance started in February 2014 when it was first brought to the attention of the community via a resort board meeting. The group against the breakwaters held press conferences, community meetings, brought down coastal erosion experts and consulted with scientists and environmental groups around the world. There were numerous articles and letters in the press and appearances on television, radio programs and they utilized social media to spread the word. The pleas to stop this project fell on deaf ears and it was approved in December 2014.

“That the GoJ is now willing to listen and explore the alternative options to combat beach erosion, speaks volumes and augers well for the environment,” the NCC expressed in its release issued today.

The release continued: “Beach erosion is not to be blamed solely on hurricanes and storms. Man too has contributed with the wanton disregard of protecting the environment and its vital role in having and keeping a thriving, successful tourism product with the beach as its initial main attraction. Some of the more appealing and holistic solutions are to be presented to the Government and their various agencies at a meeting on August 10, 2016 in Negril. The presentations will be by Deltares Research Institute, the NatureCoast consortium and Biorock. The NCC looks forward to a productive meeting and partnering with the GoJ on the projects that will create sustainable and environmentally sound solutions to erosion in Negril.