Hon. Andrew Holness 5/17/16 Good Day Sir, We at the Peralto JADE Foundation would like to request a teleconference with you and your team regarding the PBPA/Goat Islands at your earliest possible convenience. As you know we have been promoting the UN Biosphere Reserve for this area since the planned development of the area as part of the logistics hub was announced. We speak on behalf of the international community and those Jamaicans in the diaspora as well as in Jamaica that do not wish to see the logistics hub in the PBPA. Currently our petition (which has been reactivated and currently being promoted) has close to 10,000 signers. Our social media pages as well as our radio program, over 11,000 active members/listeners opposed to the PBPA/Goat Islands logistics hub development. There are 3 main considerations with the PBPA/Goat Islands: 1) Environmental 2) Cultural Heritage 3) Constitutional Freedoms & Rights All of these have something to do with economic opportunity for Jamaica. Dr. Erica Neegan, a Jamaican born professor of indigenous studies, is on our board of directors as our Cultural Heritage Advisor. She has DNA tested herself and holds the same genetic markers of the Taino First Nation tribe of Jamaica. Dr. Neegan has pointed out more than once the cultural heritage importance of the PBPA/Goat Islands and the need to move towards preservation and rehabilitation of the area as well as honoring the First Nation People, who adorn the crest of Jamaica. Our view is not that of a small fringe group, but that of the Nature Conservancy, the United Nations, The IUCN, as well as more than 258 other organizations, educational institutes and businesses, that support the UN Biosphere Reserve for the Portland Bight Protected Area. Collectively we do not wish to see anymore of a delay or the possibility of Jamaicans losing the benefits of the UN Biosphere Reserve. Jamaica has lost out on almost 4 years of revenue from the Portland Bight Protected Area as a UN Biosphere Reserve, as this logistics hub plan has been announced and reannounced. Jamaica has lost out on funding to help recover the area, educational opportunities and the restoration of the fish sanctuaries/fishing stock in the area as well as the benefits of ecotourism. According to the Transshipping industry as well as assessments done by the Port Authority of Panama, the likelihood of there being a boom in the transhipping industry as was seen in the 90's will not happen. Projections are maybe a 1% per annum increase in shipping for the next 10 plus years. The Port of Panama along with 8 other projects of like kind in the region that are already underway or operational means that Jamaica, even if they were to a new logistics port started, would be at a huge disadvantage and would have no guarantee of value added jobs or increased shipments coming into Jamaica. We had warned the GOJ (PNP) in the beginning that should the US normalize relations with Cuba that it would be a game changer, not only for Jamaica, but the entire region where this is concerned, as their logistics hub and deep water port is well underway and in large part operational. The distance between Cuba and Jamaica is not that much considering the amenities and services they will be providing. Cuba is also very close to the US market, which is also ramping up deep water ports along the gulf and up the eastern seaboard. Currently the Panama canal, even with its expansion will only see 10% of the world's shipping as the routes have indicated via industry reports. The other 90% comes from the east. There has been no evidence of this changing or would change even if Nicaragua builds a canal. The two would be competing for the same shipping loads. While we do not wish to block sustainable development and economic opportunity for Jamaica, we feel that better utilization of the limited resources that Jamaica has needs to be a top consideration. There are more suitable and cost effective locations for this project other than the Portland Bight. A cost benefit analysis for the Portland Bight Protected Area in good faith, disclosure and best practices, needs to be done showing the benefits of the PBPA as a Biosphere Reserve as well as that of part of the logistics hub. It is the only true way of seeing the vast economic opportunities that the PBPA/Goat Islands has as a Biosphere Reserve over that of a port development. One of the most important things to remember in all of this is that the people of Jamaica will own the Biosphere Reserve, and it can not be sold off to a foreign entity. Yes, they (FDI's) may make investments in it, but they may not own it like what has been proposed with the hub project, and economically Jamaica will benefit, and not have the money siphoned off to be sent back to the FDI as would be the case with the hub there. The money generated in Jamaica...Stays in Jamaica for the most part. The UNMAB program under UNESCO has shown that Biosphere Reserves in developing countries directly benefit the poorest of the nations they are in economically. These are well documented and studied and need to be fully considered as sustainable economic development is needed now and into the future that benefit all, not a few. Under the current circumstances of Climate Change as well as the need for economic development we strongly urge this administration to outline a program for the UN Biosphere Reserve in the Portland Bight Protected Area and keep true to their promise of protecting the environment while also bringing economic,educational, and prosperity to the people of Jamaica. Respectfully, Steven G. Smith President Peralto JADE Foundation Inc.