FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Chairman of the South Trelawny Environment Agency (STEA) Hugh Dixon is warning that bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country could undermine Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett’s ambition of attracting 10 million visitors annually and generating US$10 billion in tourism earnings within 10 years.

Dixon argues that the Cockpit Country is too important to Jamaica’s long-term economic and environmental security to be placed at risk by an extractive industry. He is of the view that its value extends beyond its natural beauty to water security, agriculture, and the development of nature-based tourism.

“The vision of Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, is dependent on this landscape being protected. It’s not just about advocacy,” Dixon said. “It’s about prudent development planning that will see us achieve great ideas like the 10×10×10.”