By Clive Simpson, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE MINISTRY of Land and Environment is taking a new approach to planning and is revising a number of Acts while drafting new ones to enable more efficient development.
Land and Environment Minister, Dean Peart, disclosed some of steps being taken, in an address prepared for Monday's official opening of the 10th Conference of Common-wealth Heads of Valuation Agencies (CHOVA), being held at the Half Moon Club in Montego Bay. Having been summoned to Cabinet meeting by the Prime Minister, Mr. Peart's address was read by Permanent Secretary Jacqueline DaCosta.
Mr. Peart says recognising the critical role that valuation agencies play in facilitating development and the operations of a vibrant and efficient real estate market, Government has mandated its agencies to facilitate development and improve efficiencies "by reducing or eliminating bureaucratic red tape."
NEW APPROACH TO PLANNING
He says efficiencies have been reflected in a number of activities undertaken or co-ordinated by the Ministry and by a whole new approach to planning. According to the Minister, "We have insufficient up-to-date sustainable development plans for most of Jamaica... and this is negatively affecting the approval and control process."
In trying to overcome this weakness through a participatory approach to planning, he says Central Government is forming partnerships with Local Government, the private sector communities and Parish Development Committees. He says a number of plans are being prepared with some already finalised.
Additionally, says Mr. Peart, "We are also revising a number of Acts, including the Planning and Building Act, improving the development approval process and putting in place a Developers' Manual to provide developers and the general public with information on procedures, guidelines and standards for undertaking a variety of development activities."
SINGLE-FAMILY SCHEMES
The Ministry is also amending the Real Estate Dealers Act and the Strata Titles Act. "In addition, we are trying to develop a Town Houses Act and Open Spaces for the management of town house and open spaces in single-family schemes."
He said Government was also "trying to do a Family Lands Act because a lot of lands in Jamaica are controlled by families."
He explained that in some instances these lands were individually owned "but the person died years ago and they have now become family lands, and that is something that w e have to give recognition to. It is a cultural although not a legal form of ownership."
The Office of the Commissioner of Mines in the Ministry has direct responsibility for managing mineral-related activity in the country, including health and safety, mineral exploration and recommending the award of mining leases and quarry licences, establishing quarry and mining zones and general environmental stewardship throughout the entire mineral industry.
QUARRY POLICY
Mr. Peart says: "To improve this we are in the process of developing a quarry policy and overall national minerals policy.
"The Government recognises the size and significance of the environment portfolio and its relationship to social and economic development, and the Ministry's mission speaks to the achievement of the highest level of sustainable environmental development."
He says more recently the Ministry has been given additional responsibility and has put in place policies, improved plans and programmes to deal with weather services, disaster preparedness, and emergency management and hazard mitigation. He adds: "The fact that these areas, which have implications for planning and development are within the purview of the ministry, is an advantage to the holistic approach to sustainable development planning. Several Acts, some of which are being amended to deal with these areas in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner, will assist us in doing so."
