KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has joined the call for the Government of Jamaica to advise the country on what has been decided in respect to the boundary definition for the protection of the Cockpit Country area.

In a release today, the PSOJ said that the absence of a clear definition of the protected boundaries for the Cockpit Country area could leave the way open for future activities that could compromise the area, and the country’s future.

“Cockpit Country area plays a critical role in sustaining Jamaica’s water supply, and in light of the recent spate of very strong hurricanes which in our view is directly linked to the effects of global warming and the resultant climate change; we believe that the protection of our environment is crucial in sustaining the economic and social development of our future,” PSOJ further explained.

 According to William Mahfood, Chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee, the Cockpit Country is a very important part of Jamaica’s Ecosystem and environmental sustainability.

“It is important for us to protect this very important area for the future of our children. The PSOJ is therefore supportive of a clearly defined protected area for the Cockpit Country being publicly declared by the government and legally protected,” Mahfood added.

The PSOJ reiterated that there can be no sustainable economic development without environmental protection.

In September, a petition was posted on the Office of the Prime Minister’s website by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) requesting that the Cockpit Country be closed to mining and quarrying. The petition garnered more than the 20,000 signatures stipulated by the OPM.

The Government had committed to providing a response within 30 days.

On Tuesday, JET expressed concern over the lack of response from Prime Minister Andrew Holness on its petition.

Holness in a subsequent release said given consultation with the environmental community as well as them advising of concerns regarding the draft boundaries, the Government has set a revised timeline to give an official response.

This timeline, Holness said, is necessary to ensure that the concerns of the various stakeholders are taken into consideration.