Advancing Jamaica’s minerals sector
THE MINISTRY of Transport and Mining is pleased to announce the submission of Jamaica’s National Minerals Policy 2017 – 2030 and its accompanying action plan and strategy to the Houses of Parliament as a White Paper. This honours the decision made by Cabinet in July 2019.
The policy and its action plan and strategy are the first such documents developed by the Government of Jamaica in relation to the minerals/ mining Sector and will, together guide its transformation.
This policy is guided by an overarching vision that by 2030, Jamaica’s minerals sector will be ‘a primary contributor to sustainability, globally competitive and coexisting with competing interests in the wider economy’. The goal is to ensure that our country’s mineral resources support sustainable national development and contribute to sustainable prosperity. Minerals are finite resources and a significant part of the patrimony of a people. However, left undeveloped, they are of little benefit, particularly in the case of a small island developing state like Jamaica. These mineral resources, which are used in construction, food preservation, animal feed, medicines, water treatment, craft and various other areas of industry, are needed to advance the economy, generate wealth and improve the well-being of our people.
Primary industrial activities generate limited social and economic benefits. The policy, therefore, promotes value-added mineral production, which creates far greater revenues for the country and, simultaneously, makes greater use of its human resources. Ensuring increased local content in all segments of the minerals sector is also a key policy focus.
The National Minerals Policy addresses, in a comprehensive way, the regulation of mineral exploitation activities in order to establish
inter-sectoral harmony and to mitigate environmental hazards. Sustainability matters regarding access to mineral reserves, the rehabilitation of mined lands and the minimisation of effluent and waste of resources are of paramount importance to the future of the minerals sector.
Consequently, the development of this policy, action plan and strategy took account of these and other long-term issues. The policy advances that where there are instances of critically adverse environmental, cultural and social impacts; serious consideration will be given to forego mining in the specific area.
The National Minerals Policy reflects the Government’s determination and posture towards developing a broad-based sector within the construct of sustainability, and establishes the official framework and facilitating structures, that will guide the effective management and continued transformation of the sector towards a balanced and competitive environment, while ensuring congruence with competing interests in the wider economy.
The success of the National Minerals Policy, as well as its action plan and strategy requires national consensus and I welcome all stakeholders to join with us in achieving a sustainable minerals sector that is a viable contributor to Jamaica becoming ‘… the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business’.