KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Environment and Climate Resilience Omar Newell has criticised recent comments by Environment Minister Matthew Samuda linking Jamaica’s biggest mangrove threat to the illegal cutting of trees for firewood, arguing that the claims are inconsistent with findings in the Government’s National Mangrove and Swamp Forest Management Plan 2023–2033.

Newell’s criticism follows a Jamaica Observer article on June 15 which quoted Samuda as saying, “The biggest issue affecting our mangroves is the illegal cutting of them to be used for firewood.”

“If you don’t reduce poverty, mangroves become charcoal, and that’s where we have significant degradation of our mangrove forest — not from housing developments or commercial developments,” added Samuda at a Rotaract District 7020 Conference at Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny last Friday.