Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

Colonel of the Accompong Maroons in St. Elizabeth, Sidney Peddie, has joined the fight against mining in the Cockpit Country, which they call home.

"This bauxite digging will not be permitted or allowed in the Cockpit, it would be a dreadful fight," he said.

"I tell you it would lead to the third Maroon war because we live in the area and we know the destruction that this would cause and we are not in for it at all".

According to Colonel Peddie, the Cockpit Country is home to a number of indigenous plants, animals and trees, as well as a large water source, which is the head for some 12 rivers across the region.

Back door deal

"The World Bank came in a couple of years ago saying that they wanted to make the place a protected area, but when we found out that in their plans they would want to bar the Maroons, who the place belong to, from going in, we did not sign and they left," he said.

"Now they are coming back through the back door talking about digging bauxite-that will not happen."

Spoiling for a fight, Mr. Peddie said he was willing to join with like-minded entities to protect the area.

"We are in close contact with a powerful reservation in Albert Town, called South Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA), and they are against it as well, because they are on the other side of the Cockpit," he said.

"We have had several meetings with them and we are joining forces to fight this issue."

On Thursday Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture and Lands, said a second meeting would be held in early January between Government and environmental groups to determine solutions in relation to proposed prospecting in the Cockpit Country.