KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 22, CMC – The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Friday called on people to refrain from squatting on bauxite lands, noting that these lands are being utilised both before and after mining to support agricultural production.
Director of Bauxite Lands and Programme Manager for the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP), Kemoy Lindsay, said the Institute spearheads activities related to the protection and sustainable management of bauxite lands.
He said this also requires careful infrastructure development planning across the five bauxite parishes, in St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Ann and St. Catherine.
The industry significantly impacts local communities, with reclaimed and mined-out lands frequently repurposed for housing, renewable energy (like solar and wind), and major roadways
“The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) saw the erection of hundreds of greenhouses across three of those bauxite parishes in the first phase, and we’re looking to add to that in the second phase.
“There is, however, great concern that we must bring to light and advise the public that squatting on bauxite lands has become a growing issue,” he told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’,
Lindsay noted that the JBI has begun implementing mechanisms to protect bauxite lands from squatting, both prior to mining and in the post mining phase.
“Already, we have participated and actively removed several squatters from the bauxite spaces… lands earmarked for projects as well as lands that are earmarked for development. So, let me make it very clear from the JBI’s position, that squatting on bauxite lands is something that we’re going to be increasing enforcement against in the coming financial year and, moving forward, through the lifetime and life cycle of the bauxite industry in Jamaica,” Mr. Lindsay said.
The Jamaica Bauxite Institute is recognised as a leading repository of information on bauxite and alumina, with a strong reputation for research and data analysis on industry trends.
Its existence positions Jamaica among the few developing countries with an institution dedicated solely to the research and development of one of its prime mineral resources.
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