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The National Environment and Planning Agency
(NEPA)/Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) presented
cheques on Monday, December 19, to the Negril Coral Reef Preservation
Society (NCRPS) and the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust (MBMPT) valuing
$1.56 million and $1.085 million respectively. The funds are to be
used to manage the Negril and Montego Bay Marine Parks. The cheque for
NCRPS was presented to Ms Jean Brown, President and represents 25% of
the amount collected for beach licence fees between 2000 and 2005,
while Mr. Brian Zane, Executive Director of MBMPT received the first
of three installments totaling $3,255,084.66 committed as part of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Natural Resources
Conservation Authority and the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust.
In presenting the cheques, Chairman of the NRCA
Board, Mr. James Rawle thanked Ms Brown and Mr. Zane for the work that
both the Society and Trust were doing on behalf of the NRCA. He
further stated that there should be greater collaboration among the
three entities. An elated Ms Brown extended sincere thanks to NEPA and
the NRCA Board for the contribution. Her sentiments were echoed by
Mr. Zane who described the MOU and its outcome as a “seminal
achievement” and committed the Marine Park’s continued support to the
work of NEPA in the field.
The Montego Bay Marine Park is one of Jamaica’s
nine (9) protected areas designated under the Natural Resources
Conservation Authority Act. The substantive work of the Negril Coral
Reef Preservation Society within the Negril Environmental Protection
Area is commendable.
The National Environment and Planning Agency
(NEPA) is the Government Regulatory Agency with powers to manage and
protect Jamaica’s natural resources and to ensure orderly and
sustainable physical development within Jamaica and its territorial
waters. |
