FOLLOWING the revelation that only UC Rusal was given permission to restock the Rio Cobre in St Catherine after a massive fish kill last year, minister with responsibility for the environment Matthew Samuda has appealed to individuals and entities not to interfere with the work of experts.

The fish kill occurred following a spill from an effluent-holding pond belonging to UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica. Subsequently, UC Rusal was ordered to replenish, among other things, the fish stock in the Rio Cobre.

Samuda’s appeal came on Monday, just days after the People’s National Party (PNP) said it had released roughly 3,000 Rocky Mountain white fingerlings into the Rio Cobre in a bid to help with replenishing the stock.

PNP President Mark Golding said on Friday that he was thankful authorisation was given.

But there appeared to be some misunderstanding because the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) denied that on Sunday, claiming that UC Rusal alone has the permission to restock the river with roughly 30,000 tilapia fingerlings.

Samuda expressed concern over the PNP’s approach and said because it was not authorised, no one could be sure if they in fact put fish into the Rio Cobre.

“I am not even sure if the PNP have put fish in the river. They claim they have but they had no permit to do so. I don’t know why they would approach it like that. We are a nation of laws and we have some good institutions in this country that are staffed with competent professionals. Allow them to do their job,” Samuda urged, adding that the issue should not be made into a political one.

“We did speak to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and Windalco was instructed to do the restocking. There is no need for external parties to be meddling about in a technical process,” Samuda added.

In addressing concerns over whether or not the conditions in the river were safe for the fish, Samuda indicated to the Jamaica Observer that he trusts the work of the experts who said, based on their scientific assessment, the Rio Cobre is safe.

“I understand the deep concerns, worries and risks associated with this process because people were hurt and they had a hard time. However, the technical staff at the National Fisheries Authority and NEPA are highly trained professionals who have provided this technical advice. I can’t do anything but follow the advice provided to us. Their scientific assessment is that this is the appropriate approach.

“The cause and the factors that led up to being where we are have been well-articulated and interrogated in the public space. The actions we have taken have been discussed in the public and we are following them safely. This is not a political issue. It is one that requires us to give the technical people the room to do the work that they need to do,” Samuda said.

Last week Friday, the Observer visited the Bog Walk Gorge and witnessed the release of what UC Rusal said was more than 4, 000 tilapia fingerlings into the Rio Cobre.

In the meantime, Kestonard Gordon, vice-chairman of the St Catherine Parish Development Committee and president of the Friends of the Rio Cobre, criticised the process.

He said there was a lack of communication with the citizens to inform them of the points of entry for the restocking, the types of fish, the number of fish and whether or not the river is in an acceptable position after the contamination.

“Our interest is to stop the contamination completely because the exercise this morning is going to be in futility. I am not fully appreciative for what they are doing and how they are doing it. The community knows that contamination persists and so the community is therefore very uncomfortable,” Gordon said.