MASON RIVER, Clarendon — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Friday urged Jamaicans to find a balance between protecting the country’s natural resources and using them to create wealth.

“There is a perspective about preservation and prevention which is to lock them off from everybody and prevent people from going to use them. That is impractical because it’s not in the nature of man to be separated from his history or environment,” Holness said as he participated in work on the National Labour Project — an environmental and research park at Mason River in Clarendon.

“The greatest threat to your environment and historical assets is poverty and economics. So if you really want to see the preservation of these assets you must use them to create wealth” he said.

To make his point, Holness pointed out that 45 of the 202 acres that make up the Mason River Protected Area have been reserved for local farmers, 10 of whom are already engaged in production.

He touted the significance of the project which is in line with this year’s Labour Day theme of protecting the environment.

“This is a critical filter for much of our water supply. The importance of ensuring that the quality of the water we receive that comes from this area and filters through the biological and environmental features here is for the benefit of the entire Jamaica’s water system. And so you have a duty to protect this environmental asset. It is a great store of carbon as we seek to reduce our carbon footprint and meet our global goals for the reduction of greenhouse gasses. It is also the host of significant biodiversity and this Government understands that preservation requires investment, not just intention,” the prime minister argued.

Taking a thinly-veiled jab at the Opposition Holness said, “There are lots of good intentions expressed; they sound so good that we take it at the word. Many fall for good intention but you know where that leaves you. If you really want change, if you really want better it is not merely an expression of the good intentions to do better. You must look at what the promisor has done before and what they are doing now. The expression of good intentions must also be matched by definitive, instrumental investments that you can see.”

To date, $8 million has been spent in protecting and preserving the Mason River site. Work done includes significant renovations to the researcher’s cottage, the installation of modern bathroom amenities, along with repair and upgrading of the caretaker’s cottage.

“Jamaica is a leader in the global lobbying effort as part of the high-ambition coalition to secure a worldwide commitment to protect 30 per cent of land and marine areas by 2030. So far, Jamaica has protected 25 per cent — up from eight per cent in 2016,” noted Holness.

He framed that forward movement as proof that his Administration is working, contrary to what critics say.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness seals a window on this building at the environmental and research park at Mason River in Clarendon, the National Labour Day Project, on Friday. Looking on is Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange.