MINING in the Cockpit Country has been a contentious issue in Jamaica in recent times. And Rootz Revealerz band is adding their voice to the debate through the single Pot of Gold.

It was released October 4 on the Rootz Revealerz Music label and features emerging singer Goldy. Pot of Gold has an accompanying video.

“The video is a protest against the idea of mining in the Cockpit Country. We have to protect this environmental area from exploitation by foreign interests and the Government. We must preserve this area, our ‘Pot of Gold’, for the sake of the environment and future generations,” American band member Chris Mundahl told the Jamaica Observer.

“It is so imperative that every acre of land be used as wisely as possible,” he continued.

Pot of Gold is a remake of the 1983 song of the same name by Chalice.

The Cockpit Country is a hilly and dense area in Trelawny and St Elizabeth. In recent years, there has been much debate over whether the Government should expand mining in the region, which has the highest diversity of plants and animals anywhere on the island.

Entertainers Bounty Killer, Queen Ifrica and Spragga Benz have voiced their objections to proposed mining in that protected area.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness sought to quell mounting concerns by chairing a closed-door session at Vale Royal last month. Bounty Killer, Queen Ifrica, and Tony Rebel were in attendance as well as Government Senator Matthew Samuda and Daryl Vaz, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Land, Environment, Climate Change and Investments. Holness used the meeting to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to protecting the area.

In addition Mundahl and his brother Josh; Rootz Revealerz comprises Jamaican-born Manning brothers: Prince (drums); Andrew (keyboards); and Judia (bass).

The group’s other songs include She Pray, Sweet Jamaica, and Rudeboy.

— Kediesha Perry