Quarrying responsibilities going back to EMA: Moonilal

Roodal Moonilal told the Guardian newspaper Wednesday he expects the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to have responsibility for quarrying by next week.

The paper said the environment minister also stated that all stakeholders will hold a meeting to discuss the controversy surrounding the quarrying in the vicinity of the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Moonilal stopped the quarrying earlier this week.

The minister said the stakeholders meeting would involve Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine who returned from Panama Wednesday.

The chairman of the nature centre, Judith Gobin, told the Guardian she is pleased that Government has halted quarrying. She said she is writing to the relevant ministries in an attempt to initiate talks about the issue of quarrying.

Gobin also said her organisation is willing to partner with National Quarries Company Ltd (NQCL) to reforest the excavated area. In addition she called for discussion on the issues of hillside development and quarrying wherever such activities are having an impact on the environment. 

“We need the national policy on the sustainability of the Northern Range," she told the paper. “We need the completion of the National Physical Development Plan.”