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