Dateline: April 9, 2003

 NEPA Clarification on  Lime Cay Issue

The National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) wishes to clarify information published in today’s Gleaner (January 9, 2003) regarding the lease of Lime Cay. Contrary to the report NEPA has not entered into any lease agreement with Lime Cays Jamaica to manage operations of the Cay.

The facts as NEPA understands them are -:

a] Lime Cay has been  leased to the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo.) by the Commissioner of Lands 

b] TPDCo, following an open tender process, has subleased the cay to Lime Cay Enterprises and

c] NEPA is currently processing two applications (under the provisions of the Beach Control Act) received from Lime Cays Enterprises, one for the use of the foreshore and the other for the construction of a pier at Lime Cay respectively.

Since receiving the applications, several members of the public have  contacted NEPA  indicating concerns related to the proposed use of the cay, the fees to be charged and raising claims of prescriptive rights. NEPA is required by its legal mandate to consider the interests of the public in reviewing applications and it is currently reviewing the applications as well as the related public concerns.