“I want everybody to understand thism because there is a common misconception. I have heard it in the media, watched it, and it is almost funny in terms of saying Princess is taking away all the water from Negril. Princess is not pulling your water,” stated Dr Carlton Campbell, the managing director of CL Environmental Consultants.

He noted that the hotel’s consumption has fallen since constructing its water treatment plant.

Campbell was responding to a question from a member of Whitehall Citizens’ Association in Negril, Lilly Williams, during a presentation of the results of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). The study looked at the construction of a temporary road for the hotel which will soon enter phase two of construction. The meeting was held at Green Island High School last week.

Williams told the meeting there is a common view that the hotel being constructed in Industry Cove near Green Island in Hanover was responsible for the shortage of water in the resort town of Negril. The Government and National Water Commission (NWC) have clearly stated in the past that the water crisis is caused by drought.

Negril and Green Island are supplied with water from the Logwood Treatment Plant in Hanover, which is currently operating at half its capacity.

“We just wanted to know when we are going to get an ease because we never used to have this water problem. I am sure you guys have plans with your water but for now, it is too much,” Williams said, referencing the hotel.

Campbell noted that in a 2019 EIA presentation he had pointed out that they were aware of the water problem in the area and had put measures in place to deal with it.

“We told you that when we did our surveys, water was always an issue. We told you guys that we would have a reverse osmosis plant. That has been done. It has been approved,” stated the scientist, who also explained that four wells have been established.

He said the plant, which has been approved by National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), makes the hotel self-sufficient as it relates to NWC.

“This plant is capable of producing 2,250 cubic metres of water for phase one [of the hotel construction]. We have three modules installed. The hotel construction is 1,400 to 1,600 cubic metres, so you are already seeing that we are having excess,” stated Campbell, who was armed with documents, graphs and videos.

He revealed that two more modules will be added to the plant, and five of those will be capable of producing 3,750 cubic metres of water. Campbell said total consumption for phases one and two of the hotel, when in operation, will be anywhere between 2,400 and 2,800 cubic metres of water.

Williams was pleased with the clarity provided.

“We were told in the media that NEPA did not approve it. Now that you clear it up, I can go back to my community and tell them that Princess is not on NWC water. NWC will now have to sort out our problem,” she said.

During the meeting Campbell also gave an update on the EIA for the construction site.

Phase one consists of two hotels with a total of 1,012 rooms. Another two hotels are to be constructed at a date to be announced under phase two. There will also be 14 over-water rooms. Each hotel will cater to different clientèle.

He revealed that to facilitate phase two of the hotel construction, a temporary access road is needed.

The site, which will be one of the largest, is expected to have more than 4,000 employees. Approximately 1,800 of them will be resort workers, another 1,800 will be employed to the all-inclusive section of the property, while the casinos will employ up to 600 people. In addition to the traffic they will generate, there will be a need to accommodate vehicular movement that results from supplies to the food and beverage department, maintenance, stores, and taxis among others.

“Phase two introduces additional traffic from construction workers, vehicles, heavy equipment — and safety will be a big concern because you are going to have an operational hotel and construction traffic so there is a reason why we need to have this access road,” explained Campbell.

The 12-metre-wide road, which will split from the existing main road leading to the property, will run leftward through mangroves and wetland areas towards the phase-two construction site. Campbell said the road will be constructed to industry standards.

As part of mitigation control, perimeter fencing will be erected. This will also prevent run-off sediments from entering the mangroves. Once construction is completed the area will undergo decommissioning and rehabilitation. In addition, mangroves that are removed to facilitate work will be replanted.

“Native species — the species that are generally found there — we will prioritise to do the revegetation,” promised Campbell.

The meeting was also told that equipment with low emission and mufflers will be used to reduce noise pollution; workers using noisy equipment will be provided with ear muffs; and construction is only allowed between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.

Other measures include having garbage skips strategically placed on the compound for collection of construction solid waste and emptied regularly at an approved disposal site; safety signs and flagmen are to be posted; and gravel pads are to be placed at the exit point of the temporary road to reduce mud and marl from littering the main road.