<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>In a seeming bid to quell the anxiety of
Bounty Killer, Queen Ifrica, and Tony Rebel over rumours of proposed mining within
the Cockpit Country in Trelawny, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness met up
with the three Dancehall champions at Jamaica House yesterday.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>According to Holness, he had a “very engaging
conversation on the area designated as the Cockpit Country Protected Area” with
the three, along with representatives of the Forestry Department, Minister with
responsibility for the environment, Daryl Vaz&nbsp;and Government Senator Matthew
Samuda.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Prime Minister posted photos taken
during and after the deliberations, which included a Powerpoint presentation,
on his Facebook Page and on Twitter last evening. &nbsp;&nbsp;In the multiple shots, the PM greets a beaming
Queen Ifrica with a tight hug, perhaps an indication that he held no hard
feelings toward the artiste for holding him and his Ministers accountable. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“There is much misinformation in the
public domain and I engaged them with the facts. This Government took the bold
move to ensure the Cockpit Country is protected.&nbsp; The Government is looking at the issue of the
Cockpit Country in a comprehensive way.&nbsp; We are currently on the ground
physically marking the area in a process known as ground truthing,” the Prime
Minister noted in his post.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“The discussions were enlightening. I
restated my position that this Government remains committed to protecting the
Cockpit Country. I ask members of the public to refrain from disturbing the
markings from the ground truthing exercise,” he added.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The three artistes, along with their compatriot
Spragga Benz, have been taking the Holness administration to task on social
media, over the last several weeks, as concerns continue to reign that approval
has been given to Noranda Bauxite Company to extract bauxite ore from lands which
within the Cockpit, which is one of the island’s most biodiverse areas and
where much of the island’s water sources spring.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->