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Clean Kingston Harbour?
Excerpt from column by Jean Lowrie-Chin
Published 8 April 2019 in Jamaica Observer
The GraceKennedy Lecture now in its 31st
year, is a generous public event sponsored by the 97-year-old company. Chairman of the GK Foundation, Dr Fred
Kennedy, noted, “My Dad used to say, a good business is just like a good
family; each is founded on a set of core values, the most important of which is
honesty. Even the principles of
finance are the same, the means to prosperity, he used to say, is never spend
more than you earn, and always invest in the future.”
Kingston Harbour is good business indeed, and there is
already hefty investment in its future. In addressing the topic, “Clean
Kingston Harbour – Pipe Dream or Pot of Gold?” panelists Prof Mona Webber, Dr
Wayne Henry and Tijani Christian and Prof Dale Webber gave rich insights on the
seventh best natural harbour in the world. Dr Henry noted that there are 1,633
businesses on the land surrounding the harbour, with an estimated revenue of $252.4
billion. On the Kingston waterfront, we are seeing the completion of the
GraceKennedy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade buildings.
However, even with the introduction of the Soapberry
treatment plant, the Harbour is polluted. Prof Mona Webber reminded that “the
water in Kingston Harbour should not be in contact with human skin.” It was
noted that 19 gullies and 2 rivers course into the harbour, carrying solid
waste, 80 percent of which is plastic. It takes 450 years minimum to break down
these plastics! The threats are many: coral reefs are in crisis and the
pollutants could damage ships, making the harbour unattractive for shipping and
a threat to our becoming a logistics hub.
There was a call stronger law enforcement and
collective and individual responsibility. We cannot let this be a pipe dream –
let’s work at cleaning Kingston Harbour.
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