Peter Espeut

I must say that I did not know that the Rev. Garnett Roper was so far out of touch with official Jamaica government policy. I thought that someone trusted enough to be appointed chairman of such an important government agency as the Social Development Commission (SDC) would spout only orthodox views.

In an important policy document, the Jamaican Government clearly states that: "The long-term policy objective of the Government of Jamaica is Sustainable Development" ('Towards a National Policy and Strategy on Environmental Manage-ment Systems').

In his piece in another newspaper last Sunday, Rev. Roper espouses entirely opposite views, and I hope he is not going to be disciplined too harshly for it.

Anti-development people

He begins his piece stating that "there are more than J$20 billion worth of projects tied up between the parish councils and National Environmental and Planning Agency awaiting approvals" and he laments the long time that applicants have to wait while their applications are processed.

He identifies a "sustained anti-development lobby both in the media and between non-governmental organisations and environmentalists."

He ends his piece by stating that "if we can fix the approval and regulatory processes, we can unleash growth and development in Jamaica at the pace of China."

I would like the Rev. Roper to identify these anti-development people by name so I can give them a sound 'cussin' off!' Who in their right mind could be against development in Jamaica, especially at a time like this when so many are poor, illiterate and vulnerable?

On the other hand, it is clear that the Rev. Roper falls into the category of persons who support unsustainable development (in opposition to clearly stated government policy) - develop-ment at any cost.

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is a shame that someone like him who possesses the influence of pen and pulpit can be so unbalanced and strident in spreading a point of view which will damage the welfare of future Jamaicans.

Not all 'development' activity is sustainable. In the name of jobs and economic growth today we can damage the ability of future generations to survive.

The way the government has promoted fishing over the last 50 years has made us the most overfished nation in the Caribbean, and maybe the world. Fishers are having a hard time buying back gas from their low catches.

The way we have chopped down our forests puts us in the top bracket globally in terms of deforestation, with its inevitable results of soil erosion, loss of agricultural productivity, the drying up of more than 100 rivers in the 20th century and water shortages.

Rigorous process

In order to ensure sustainable development, each project must go through a rigorous process of investigation, and some projects should not be approved if they are unsustainable. The way the Rev. Roper writes suggests that each of these "more than J$20 billion worth of projects awaiting approvals" should be approved.

Nonsense! Not every hare-brained scheme conceived by persons with more dollars than sense should go ahead. The Rev. Roper should not envy China's approximately 10 per cent annual growth in GDP; much of it is notoriously unsustainable and counterfeit, and will damage the potential of yet unborn Chinese.

We must be careful not to misuse the word 'development'. Develop-ment that is not sustainable is counterfeit development.

Those who understand the meaning of the Kingdom of God which we pray will come soon, must lobby hard for sustainable development. We must work hard for right relationships in these last days: right relationships with one another and with the planet. Any other gospel is counterfeit!

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and is executive director of an environment and development non-governmental organisation.