Saturday, January 15^th, 2000

Attention: Social Assessment Team

Cockpit Country Conservation Project

Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA)

10 Caledonia Avenue

Kingston 5

We, citizens of Northern Trelawny are writing to express our concern over the possibility of bauxite mining in our region. During this workshop, held at the Duanvale Primary School on Saturday, January 15, 2000, we have been informed by one of our own community members that bauxite mining may be taking place in the proposed Cockpit Country conservation area and within its proposed buffer zone. Radio reports have been heard announcing that the lands to be mined are within the region from the Campbell/Burnt Hill/Barbeque Bottom area through to Coxheath and Windsor. This is the area where we live.

We are strongly opposed to bauxite mining in our region. Mining will:

· Damage our water supply;

· Destroy the unique wildlife in the Cockpit Country;

· Create health hazards (particularly hazards related to bauxite dust) and;

· Breakup our communities resulting in consequences that are still being suffered 30-40 years later by many of those present who have already been once displaced from St. Ann by the Kaiser Bauxite Company.

The Bauxite companies are unable to return land to its original state and claims of rehabilitation, especially to the original conditions of biodiversity unique to the Cockpit area, will not be believed by this group of persons here today. We, the undersigned, present at this workshop, unanimously conclude that bauxite mining in this area will be staunchly opposed.

We ask that you forward this letter to the Cockpit Country Project Steering Committee and to the Bauxite Institute on our behalf as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

The undersigned: