Asa Wright centre wants halt to quarrying on mountaintop

The Chairman of the Asa Wright Nature Centre called on Government Monday to halt quarrying on the mountain ridge facing the centre. 

Judith Gobin made the appeal at a news conference at the centre. The quarrying is taking place by National Quarries Limited (NQL) on the hillside from the centre. It is considered a direct threat to the habitat of animals in an area known for its biodiversity. 

Gobin said Government, which owns the company, needs to begin restorative work on the cleared and blasted forest area immediately.

Gobin also called for the immediate adoption of the national policy on the sustainable use of the Northern Range, which was recommended by the Environmental Management Authority’s (EMA) State of the Environment report. 

“We are calling for urgent completion and adoption of the National Physical Development Plan and that the activity of quarrying be reinstated to the list of activities under the Designated Activities Order immediately,” Gobin said. 

The previous Manning PNM Government removed quarrying from the list, taking away the EMA's jurisdiction of such operations.

Late last year, however, Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal announced the Government’s intention to return jurisdiction over all quarrying activities to the authority. 

Gobin said NQL had assured the centre that it would engage in mining in the area now occupied.

“When are we going to stop? When are we as a country going to say enough is enough?” Gobin asked. 

Former chairman of the centre Dr Carol James suggested that the government could import the materials, which are need for the construction sector. 

“This is not just an Asa Wright issue, this is a national issue. Because of quarrying we have lost our water supplies. Wildlife will be killed or driven away,” James said.  

“When these mountains are destroyed, everything changes. Wind direction changes, landslides occur, flooding becomes a problem. Everything changes,” James declared.