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Pockwood Pond “fumes” still concern USVI

File: The Pockwood Pond dumpsite back in 2010 when external burning was prominent at the site.
File: A backhoe loading trash into the new incinerator yesterday November 17, 2011.
File: A backhoe loading trash into the new incinerator yesterday November 17, 2011.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – While the complaints have reduced, there are still a substantial amount of complaints being received from residents of the United States Virgin Islands regarding the external fumes that emanate from the Pockwood Pond incinerator site, which is located on the western side of Tortola.

Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie Skelton told the House of Assembly during the 2012 Budget Debate on March 23, 2012 that while the new incinerator is currently in operation, it lacks the scrubber and complaints are still coming in from the United States Virgin Islands regarding the emissions from the site.

He gave an update on the scrubber and the other efforts to acquire water, which is required for use by the scrubber, which is an air pollution control device that can be used to remove some particles and/or gases from waste facility’s exhaust steams.

“We have not installed a scrubber on it, we have paid for it, I have given instructions for the scrubber to be made and shipped to the BVI. We have to discuss with the land owner to acquire a piece of land to get sea water to get into the scrubber to filter what’s going in the atmosphere. That is being worked on.”

The open burning on the Western end of Tortola has been a vexing issue for both local residents and residents of the United States Virgin Islands for a long time, especially those on St. John’s Coral Bay.

As for the Coral Bay residents, they too may be relieved as the matter had even reached the US State Department with the USVI Governor John P de Jongh Jr. having to step it and was given assurances that the problem would have been rectified in September.

In an article published in the St. Thomas Source on January 4, 2011 titled

“Tortola dump fire has St. John residents fuming”, several residents of St. John had expressed their frustration with the open fire and one resident even suggested that they take the matter to the United Nations.

During the Christmas holidays last year, the external burning was producing black smoke which was as a result of items getting into the dumpsite that were not supposed to be there.

In a statement that was issued by Governor de Jongh on March 10, 2011, he had stated, “Our friends in the British Virgin Islands must responsibly process their waste. It is unfair for the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically residents of St. John, to have their air quality diminished by the actions of a neighbouring country”.

Meanwhile, on January 27, 2011, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Petrona Davies had confirmed to Virgin Islands News Online that the new incinerator at Pockwood Pond, which is expected to address the open burning concerns, would have been completed by late August to early September 2011.

“We are very much concerned for those persons who are affected,” Mrs. Davies had said while outlining that the health ministry would have had community discussions with all those who were affected on the island of Tortola, mainly residents of the 1st and 3rd Districts.

The Governor, who was in the Virgin Islands for the Fourth Inter-Virgin Islands Council (IVIC) meeting which had taken place on May 12, 2011 had said, “What was especially gratifying in addition to law enforcement is to be able to hear the Ministry talk about the addressing of the Pockwood Pond incinerator. That has been a tremendous concern for the people of St. John and to hear that there is a process that will result in it being completed the early part of the summer, I think is both gratifying to us but also I must commend the BVI for taking on an issue to address electricity and the waste within the community in a way that is creative.”

15 Responses to “Pockwood Pond “fumes” still concern USVI”

  • she the cat mother (26/03/2012, 15:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    on no
  • taxpayer (26/03/2012, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ronnie old boy, the price for the Smith's land is going to be high. One suggestion is to give Ira first departure out of all BVI ports, with exclusive rights into Anegada. You can also promise him that you will clean up the mess which he has created at the enterence to the Road Reef Marina. Hmmm.
    • fish market (26/03/2012, 23:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      but the people dem at dmv stop complaining so why is the USVI still crying like a baby?
      • DMV boy (27/03/2012, 12:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        speak for yourself for we who work outside still have to enjure that smoke!!!!
  • VI Diva (26/03/2012, 17:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    USVI need to worry less about our fumes /smoke and worry more about their crime and economy. Last I check our fumes have not killed 13 people. Furthermore while they worrying about our smoke their economy going up in smoke. You can tell where their priorities are no wonder their economy in that state. And ain't nothing more than a set of non-locals who move there every minute stirring up this issue.
    • sss (26/03/2012, 18:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      VI Diva..I have to disagree with you on that. The fact that their economy is struggling is surely not a good reason to be neglectful of their health. The economy can always recover but your health is something that no amount of money can get back once it is compromised..
    • Well Sah (27/03/2012, 13:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Shout your dawn mouth and keep that smoke in Tola. If ayo want that smoke to kill ayo and you think it ok to let toxic fumes into the environment keep doing so but keep in in Tola
  • ooooo (26/03/2012, 21:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    well them cant blame dancia now
  • zow (26/03/2012, 23:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so we have a war now between the virgins...I backing TOLA
    • Well Sah (27/03/2012, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You think ayo governor going to back ayo against his kind of people of St. John. Ayo better think again. Those people always stick together no matter where they come from.
  • fisher man (27/03/2012, 07:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The usvi need to talk about them fishing in our waters!
    • Well Sah (27/03/2012, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What water you talking about. The water is for everyone it's god water not yours or anybody waer so shout your dawn mouth.
  • Confucius (27/03/2012, 09:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the shoe were on the other foot, I guarantee BVIslanders would not be silent. My family (and many others in Pockwood Pond, Carrot Bay, Romney Park, Zion Hill, Apple Bay, Frenchman's Cay and West End) have suffered with these toxic fumes for years now. It has been so bad at times that I have been wakened from a deep sleep. Recently, it has been much better but there are still some times that the wind brings the noxious fumes our way and let me tell you, it is truly unbearable! I don't blame anyone for complaining. If that stuff got up your nose, you would complain too! The people on St. John are our neighbours. The lack of compassion for others shown in these blogs is truly disgusting. So many selfish, uncaring people! We should be apologizing (once again) rather than being rude and antagonistic! I totally understand the complaints and agree 100%. To those who don't give a darn ~ ask yourselves this, how many people do YOU know with asthma in the BVI? Ever wondered why our national average is increasing?


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