Sensitisation meeting over controversial fish farming venture near primary school ends in chaos as tensions boil over.
A community meeting intended to build support for a proposed fish farming operation in Barking Lodge, St Thomas descended into confrontation Tuesday, with the sitting Member of Parliament walking out and police called to restore order. The sensitisation session, held at Barking Lodge Primary and Infant School—the institution located directly behind the planned ponds—ended abruptly after accusations of political manipulation and a shouting match between project supporters and critics.
Dr Michelle Charles, the former St Thomas Eastern MP and director of St Thomas Farms Limited, organised the meeting to present the aquaculture initiative, which has been suspended pending environmental permits. According to the Jamaica Observer, the presentation included an overview of environmental and safety measures designed to guide the development. Clive Williams, director of the National Fisheries Authority, told attendees that the organisation had determined the project was feasible and conducted according to agricultural standards, with no anticipated adverse effects on the environment or community.
However, the assurances failed to quell community concerns. Rose Shaw, the current Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern, accused the meeting’s chairman of pursuing a political agenda and expressed her disgust with the proceedings before leading her team out of the session. The meeting subsequently erupted into a shouting match, prompting police intervention to manage the escalating tensions.
Charles has positioned the project as a potential catalyst for economic development in an area that has seen limited commercial growth since the decline of the sugar industry. She contends the venture could generate employment, provide skills training, improve infrastructure, and sustain economic growth across Jamaica’s eastern region. According to Charles, consultations with the school’s principal occurred before construction planning began, and student safety has remained central to the project’s design throughout the planning process.
The aquaculture project represents a significant proposed commercial development for Jamaica’s eastern parishes, where economic opportunities have been constrained following the decline of traditional sugar production. The location near an active primary school has intensified community scrutiny of the initiative.
This dispute reflects broader Caribbean tensions between economic development initiatives and community concerns over environmental impact and public safety, particularly when projects are sited near schools and residential areas. The clash also illustrates ongoing questions about consultation processes and political accountability in local development decisions across the region.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: Community · Island routing: Jamaica