SUBMISSION BY PAUL LAWRENCE ON NEMA AMENDMENT BILL

The Minister

The proposed amendment of NEMA is concerning as it has the potential to undermine our democratic rights as citizens of this country.

It is essential that citizens have the opportunity to be involved and participate in any development that is going to affect them or their environment.

Our natural resources are extremely precious and in the interest of promoting the sustainable use of them for all South Africans, any development that goes ahead without intensive public participation and input from professionals in the form of EIA's etc, will be a direct violation of our rights to a clean, healthy environment and to be heard as citizens of this country.

I would strongly urge the department to consider the rights of all South Africans when it comes to the National Environmental Management Act. The natural resources of this country belong to each and every one of us and nobody should have the power to make a desicion without taking into account and acting upon the input of trained professionals and affected and interested parties.

Kind Regards

Paul Lawrence

Delta Environmental Centre