Fishers affected by the latest contamination of the Rio Cobre are to receive $16 million in compensation from the $117-millilon Environmental Performance Bond which the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) has drawn down from UCRusal/Windalco.

In a release a short while ago, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda said the fishers are among those to be compensated for the contamination of the St Catherine-based river between July 26 to August 4, 2022.

“It has been my intention to ensure iterative updates were provided to Jamaicans on the Rio Cobre fish kill. However, the scale and longstanding nature of the problem, along with the complexity of the issues uncovered, demanded that a detailed process of analysis was undertaken,” said Samuda.

“Though the work is not yet complete, we are at the point to provide an update to the public,” added Samuda.

He noted that among the other entities to be compensated from the bond, are the National Water Commission, which is due to receive $43 million; and the National Irrigation Commission, which is to get $17 million.