"We are coming after you!" Knight said at a press conference, held at NEPA's offices recently.

The acting CEO said he was personally involved in stepping up of environmental sanctions.

There were also eight enforcements signed at the start of the year, in the first month alone, the recently appointed acting CEO said.

Speaking with The Gleaner Knight revealed that NEPA, had issued an enforcement notice to a hotel on the north coast. He explained that the hotel's sewerage treatment plant was malfunctioning and effluent was discharged on another premises. The problem, he said, has since been rectified.

Improve efficiency

This year NEPA plans to, among other things, improve efficiency and intensify the enforcement of permit laws.

Knight also said NEPA would be actively pursuing partnerships with other regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Water Resources Authority, National Solid Waste Management Authority, parish councils, Island Special Constabulary Force and select environmental non-government organisations.

Diana McCaulay, Jamaica Environment Trust CEO, said she was pleased that NEPA was seeking to enforce its policies.

"But he (Knight) left out government agencies when he talked about enforcement," she said.

She questioned the depth of the Government's support of the enforcement plans Knight had outlined for the agency, stating, "Enough is not being done, and what is being done is being done too late."