The Ministry of Environment announced yesterday, March 21st, the rejection of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit application submitted by Hammerhead International Ltd.
The request was for the establishment and operation of a primate breeding and holding farm in Le Val, Grand-Port.
The Ministry of Environment clearly stated that they will not pursue the evaluation of Hammerhead International Ltd’s EIA request.
However, the permit rejection does not necessarily mean the end of Hammerhead’s project.
The company may consider alternative steps as the decision by Rose-Belle Sugar Estate to not renew their lease contract is being contested.
This decision by the ministry comes almost a month after the initial on-site evaluation on February 15th, marking a significant milestone in the project approval process.
With the absence of the EIA permit, which is one of the criteria required by the Ministry of Agro-Industry to grant the necessary permit for the primate farm, Shafeeck Jhummun, the director of Hammerhead International Ltd, remains in limbo.
The EIA permit application is just one part of the steps taken by Hammerhead International Ltd to obtain the authorization needed for their primate farm.
However, this does not spell the end for the company as since Rose-Belle Sugar Estate’s announcement on February 5th to not renew Shafeeck Jhummun’s contract, their lawyer has informed Jhummun to remove all project-related structures by March 6th.
Shafeeck Jhummun has reacted by contesting Rose-Belle Sugar Estate’s decision and arguing that as long as an appeal is pending, the contract remains valid under the law.
He asserts that all his actions are legal and that he will seek recourse through the court if Rose-Belle Sugar Estate does not rule in his favor.
While waiting for the sugar estate’s response to his challenge, Shafeeck Jhummun remains determined to continue his efforts and defend his project before the relevant authorities.
This legal and administrative deadlock raises important questions about the future of the primate farm project.
Environmental issues, and concerns related to the captivity and breeding of primates are at the center of the debates, highlighting the challenges such initiatives face.
Source: l’Express
