The Editor, Sir:

Peter Espeut in his column on Wednesday November 8, titled, 'Counterfeit Development' has joined others in seeking to account for the position I take on issues by placing me in some lofty position in relation to the Government of the PNP. For the records, the Chairman of the Social Development Commission is Robert Bryan. I ceased being chairman of the SDC in 2000. Then, as now, the positions I take on issues are entirely my own.

Mr. Espeut has criticised my call for a six-month turnaround approval process between NEPA and the Parish Council by asserting that I would be promoting unsustainable development, which he says is counterfeit development. It simply does not follow that to call for greater efficiency in the approval process is to promote unsustainable development. It also is not credible that agencies with the competence of NEPA and Parish Councils would not be in a position to give a definitive verdict on a project within six months. A 24-month long approval process (many projects have waited longer than 24 months without reply from the agencies) in my view is simply institutionalised inefficiency.

Dismissive arrogance

Mr. Espeut scoffs at $20B worth of projects tied up between NEPA and the Parish Council with dismissive arrogance. He classifies them as hare-brained schemes conceived by persons with more dollars than sense. If they are hare-brained schemes as determined by edict of this papal bull, at least the investor deserves a response within a briefer period than 24 months.

I wish to challenge Peter Espeut and others who like him possess skill and talent to re-orient their approach in the following manner. The Government of this country has reposed enormous confidence in the determination and judgment of Peter Espeut and his organisation, CCAM: Portland Bight stretches from Hellshire in St. Catherine to Clarendon Point in Clarendon. It is the south eastern shore of the island, approximately one-twentieth of the total land area in Jamaica. That area includes places like Manatee Bay, Coquar Bay, Goat Island, some of the most beautiful virgin unspoiled territories in Jamaica. By ethos created by the likes of Espeut nothing has and nothing will happen there. Remarkably, in 1971, the UDC engaged the services of a reputable firm of international developers called Shankland & Cox to do a development proposal for Coquar and Manatee Bay. They proposed a development of that area that would dwarf Negril and Ocho Rios by comparison. I know of developers that were seeking to raise U$1.7B to revive the development proposal for Coquar Bay, but it falls within Portland Bight, the area where Peter Espeut's word is final and therefore, no further thought has been given to that development.

Economic catalyst

Despite the fact that U$100M would be earmarked for the development of Port Royal, and such a development would inevitably provide an economic catalyst for the development of Spanish Town, Portmore and the Corporate Area, it was not considered. Coquar Bay is to remain a part of the nature reserve and is not to be developed, so says Peter and perhaps others also. Worse than prohibiting development the omniscient environmentalists will not even share the rest of us hare-brained folks what is being protected and preserved in Portland Bight. The authorities are so intimidated by the environmentalists they would not even broach the subject.

It is time that in relation to other places at least, environmentalists stop telling others what not to do and start guiding the process in order to get something done.

Let us face the fact, Mr. Espeut, the current process is not working, except to stifle development. I spoke of J$20B being tied up. I have since been advised that the parish of Trelawny alone has projects of greater than J$20B in value, in two projects, Oyster Bay and Harmonisation. The inefficiency of the approval process is making Jamaica its own worst enemy.

I am, etc.,

GARNETT ROPER

Highgate, St Mary.