The Editor, Sir:

So now we have it from the horse's mouth, as reported in The Gleaner's article 'Bahía boss says NEPA blocking expansion', April 19, that Pablo Pinero, developer of the Bahía Príncipe Hotel at Pear Tree Bottom, was "reassured that he would get" all the necessary permits for him to build three hotels, totalling 1,800 rooms.

And now that his mega-hotel on what should have been a national park is not turning out to be the done deal he thought it was, Mr Pinero is "very angry with Jamaica" and blaming National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) for his misfortune.

Regulation is necessary

His arrogance surpasses even that of his countryman, the ubiquitous Spanish ambassador to Jamaica, who although he seems to share Mr Pinero's view that Jamaican laws do not apply to Spanish 'investors', stops short of actually saying it.

We have only to look at the devastation in Ocho Rios this week to see why due diligence in environmental regulation is necessary. The fact that NEPA at long last appears to be doing its job is cause for some measure of optimism among those who put Jamaica first.

I am, etc.,

MARGARET MELLOR

St Ann