A contentious debate has erupted in Jamaica’s Parliament regarding the adequacy of compensation for communities affected by bauxite mining operations. The controversy emerged after Mining Minister Floyd Green disclosed that approximately $350 million had been distributed to residents over a six-year period (2020-2025) for nuisances including dust pollution, noise disturbance, and other mining-related disruptions.
Opposition MP Peter Bunting of Manchester Southern launched a vigorous challenge against the compensation framework, characterizing the payments as fundamentally inadequate. His analysis revealed that the annual allocation translates to merely $60 per household daily—an amount he noted cannot even purchase two Panadol tablets at local shops. Bunting emphasized that thousands of households endure constant heavy equipment movement, pervasive dust coating their properties, and children suffering from sinus problems due to mining activities.
The parliamentary exchange uncovered significant systemic gaps in compensation management. Minister Green acknowledged the absence of centralized records documenting crop damage assessments or standardized valuation methodologies. Compensation currently operates on a case-by-case basis through community councils or direct company negotiations, with assessments informed by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) considering crop type, maturity, and market prices.
Bunting condemned this ad-hoc approach, highlighting the ‘information asymmetry’ that leaves farmers vulnerable and undermines transparency. He called for establishing objective compensation standards based on crop types and land area to ensure fairness.
Beyond compensation disputes, the debate expanded to include land rehabilitation failures. Bunting described portions of South Manchester as appearing ‘post-apocalyptic’ with unreclaimed mining pits remaining derelict for over a decade despite mining completion. He questioned whether companies face enforcement of stipulated $25,000-per-hectare penalties for delayed certification.
In response, Green outlined corrective measures including a comprehensive audit of all bauxite lands, a ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to certification delays, and written notices to non-compliant companies. The minister acknowledged complicating factors including land ownership disputes and technical challenges related to ore blending across sites.