THE EDITOR, Sir: SOMETIMES THE 'best' is not necessarily "the right thing to do." For example, when communicating, it is prudent to utilise all available media, rather than try to find and utilise only the best medium.It is for this matter that we ought not to be thinking of relocating the Norman Manley International Airport but, rather, we should, as a matter of urgency, be moving full speed ahead in building another international airport in an environment that is much less susceptible to both earthquakes, tropical cyclones and other severe weather systems.
I include "other severe weather systems" as I have witnessed and can testify to the impact of a strong "norther" dumping huge rocks and other debris on the Palisadoes road, making it impassable, albeit for only about 24 hours.
HAVE TO PRAY HARDER
In keeping the existing infrastructure as a domestic and/or an international airport, we will just have to pray harder that at least we don't get the tail end of another tropical cyclone, too frequently. It is possible that we could fix the roads and next year another tropical cyclone comes along, or in the same year for that matter, so we fix again, and then another year or two another tropical cyclone comes along.
Having the Norman Manley International along with another airport, I trust that the advantages are crystal clear, in all respects. However, given the clear and always present high-level risk involved, it would be prudent to cap the level and type of development that is also being planned for the Norman Manley environment.
On a similar note, it is for these very reasons why I continue to oppose the siting of wind turbines in this environment, rather than on the hills overlooking the Cement Company.
Having more than just a passing knowledge regarding the conceptualising, design, crafting and initial implementation of the policy framework for Sustainable Development in Small Island States (SIDS) which in itself is a by-product of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, I can without any fear whatsoever of contradiction state that the real truth of the matter is "we have just been extremely fortunate, to date."
Should we continue, to trust our luck? Do we continue to plan to do nothing or plan to procrastinate about such critical lifeline infrastructures?
I am, etc.,
CALVIN R. GRAY
calvinrgray@cwjamaica.com
