I'm fedup of the bullragging -Asa Wright and Dr. Carol James.

RE: http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,156777.html

wherein is reported that somebody named Dr. Carol James made some amazing statements concerning the history of the desecration of the Northern Range in the vicinty of Asa Wright Nature Centre -her statements are so amazing my keyboard freezes every time I attempt to input her words, so please click on the link above and read the Newsday article. Nonetheless, I must protest the bullragging Dr. James is trying to put down on us, as, since October 6th 2008 I'd lined her up in my crosshairs and squeezed the trigger, all to get her to resign from the Asa Wright Board of Directors, on which Board she has been sitting for many, many years, during many of which she also simultaneously sat on the board of the Environmental Management Agency, thus would have had the power to treat with National Quarries Limited on the issue and in a manner if need be...given what she has said, diplomacy wasn't the preferred option. She, together with both agencies are therefore the main culprits in said desecration. Furthermore, she used to be the Head of the Wildlife Division, which used to be under the then Ministry of Agriculture but is now under the Ministry of Housing and the Enviroment.

Read "Dr. Carol James in the crosshairs" please...and excuse a minute while you do -gotta go, as, like Chalkdust, I think it's time to put on my guns again!

But, wait a sec! Keyboard warming up...here's what dropped from Dr. Carol's lips:

"...Asa (Wright Nature Centre) is concerned about national development not about its own survival..."

She for real? Eh, Peter O'C?

For the removal of all doubt that the Environmental Management Authority has the full responsiblity and attendant full power to sort out the mess which threatens the Asa Wright Nature Centre, particularly to bring National Quarries to book, lemme quote directly from the Environmental Management Act, Chapter 35:05, which Act is freely viewable/ at/from the Ministry of Legal Affairs website (Check: http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/35.05.pdf, if you're a Doubting Thomas)

Section 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“environment” means all land, area beneath the land surface, atmosphere, climate, surface, surface water, groundwater, sea, marine and coastal areas, seabed, wetlands and natural resources within the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago, and “environmental” shall have the corresponding meaning;

“governmental entity” means any—

(a) department of government;
(b) statutory body; and
(c) other enterprise or institution which, in whole or in part, is publicly funded or owned by the government;

“natural resources” means the living plants, animals, organisms and other biological factors within the environment, and the geologic formations, mineral deposits, renewable and nonrenewable assets, and the habitat of the living plants, animals, organisms and other biological factors;

“pollution” means the creation or existence of any deviation from natural conditions within the environment, which based  on technical, scientific or medical evidence is determined to cause or to be likely to cause harm to human health or the environment, resulting from—

(a) the presence or release of any substance; or

(b) any other type of disturbance, whether by noise, energy, radiation, temperature variation, vibration, or objectionable odors;

“waste” includes any material discarded or intended to be discarded which—

(a) constitutes garbage, refuse, sludge, or other solid, liquid, semi-solid or gaseous material resulting from any residential, community, commercial, industrial, manufacturing, mining, petroleum or natural gas exploration, extraction or processing, agricultural, health care, or scientific research activities; or

(b) is otherwise identified by the Authority as a waste under section 55;

Section 3. This Act binds the State.

Section 4. The objects of this Act are to—

(a) promote and encourage among all persons a better understanding and appreciation of the environment;

(b) encourage the integration of environmental concerns into private and public decisions;

(c) ensure the establishment of an integrated environmental management system in which the Authority, in consultation with other persons, determines priorities and facilitates coordination among governmental entities to effectively harmonise activities  designed to protect, enhance and conserve the environment;

(d) develop and effectively implement written laws, policies and other programmes for and in relation to—

(i) the conservation and wise use of the environment to provide adequately for meeting the needs of present and future generations and enhancing the quality of life;

(ii) the government’s commitment to achieve economic growth in accordance with sound  environmental practices;

(iii) the government’s international obligations; and

(e) enhance the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for environmental management.

Section 6. (1) There is hereby established a body corporate to be known as the Environmental Management Authority, which shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the persons appointed in accordance with this section.

Section 13.

(1) The Board may appoint such committees, working groups or advisory councils as it thinks fit to assist in the performance of its functions or to further the objects of this Act.

(2) One of the committees established by the Board shall—

(a) investigate, assess and report on the effectiveness of co-ordination between the Authority and other governmental entities, including the functioning of Environmental Officers, and make appropriate recommendations to the Board;

(3) Personnel of the Authority and other governmental entities shall co-operate fully with and provide information requested by any committees, working groups or advisory councils established by the Board.

Section 16.

(1) The general functions of the Authority are to—

(a) make recommendations for a National Environmental Policy;

(b) develop and implement policies and programmes for the effective management and wise use of the environment, consistent with the objects of this Act;

(c) co-ordinate environmental management functions performed by persons in Trinidad and Tobago;

(d) make recommendations for the rationalisation of all governmental entities performing environmental functions;

(e) promote educational and public awareness programmes on the environment;

(f) develop and establish national environmental standards and criteria;

(g) monitor compliance with the standards criteria and programmes relating to the environment;

(h) take all appropriate action for the prevention and control of pollution and conservation of the
environment;

(i) establish and co-ordinate institutional linkages locally, regionally and internationally;

(j) perform such other functions as are prescribed; and

(k) undertake anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the foregoing functions.

(2) in performing its functions, the Authority shall facilitate co-operation among persons and manage the environment in a manner which fosters participation and promotes consensus, including the encouragement and use of appropriate means to avoid or expeditiously resolve disputes through mechanism for alternative dispute resolution.

Section 20. (1) The Authority has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions.