Mr Leonard Francis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), said the agency plays a critical role in the lives of every Jamaican and in the country’s sustainable development. He explained that NEPA was formed from three former agencies: the Land Development and Utilisation Commission (LDUC), the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), and the Town and Country Planning Authority. Together, these bodies now manage development, land use, and environmental protection under one system. Mr Francis noted that NEPA has over 350 staff across the island, including environmental officers, watershed officers, and enforcement officers, with most based in Kingston and St Andrew. The agency also operates a laboratory on Old Hope Road that tests air and water quality. He said NEPA regulates beaches, land use, air quality, watersheds, and natural resources, all of which directly affect housing, tourism, agriculture, and public health.(Andrew Holness)