Anthony Haynes (foreground), general manager of Carib Cement Company Ltd., and Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies (third right), tour the cement company quarry in Bull Bay, St. Andrew, with workers last Thursday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVERAL GOVERNMENT ministers toured sections of St. Thomas on Thursday to determine if mining operations contributed to landslides that ravaged several communities during heavy rains associated with hurricanes Dennis and Emily.
The tour included a stop at the Jamaica Gypsum and Quarry's operations above the communities of Bull Bay and Taylor Land.
Nine and Ten Miles, as well as Taylor Land in Bull Bay, were devastated by tons of gravel and rock that crashed down unto those communities. Several homes were destroyed and residents forced to flee.
Among the touring party were heads of the Jamaica Gypsum and Quarry Limited, who led the group to the different sections of the mining operations.
DAVIES TO SEEK LASTING SOLUTION
Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, promised to seek a lasting solution to the problem of soil and other debris being washed down into the eastern Kingston communities.
Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, Joseph Hibbert, and Minister of Land and Environment, Dean Peart, were also there.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rollin Bernard, chief executive officer (CEO) of Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL, insisted that his group's activities contribute only minimally to the problem. He said TCL has already instituted a number of mitigating measures.
Dr. Bernard said that among measures was ensuring that the Bull Bay River was cleaned regularly at the company's expense in conjunction with other agencies. He also noted that there were a number of other factors that contributed to the problem of landslides in the area.
"There are a series of issues associated with unplanned housing and issues of mining which took place many years ago when U.S. Gypsum operated a quarry in the area," he said.
