‘Stop backyard burning’- CEHO- Lionel E. Michael
This was even as the Environmental Health Division was advising the public that burning of waste was not recommended as it could cause serious respiratory complications.
“However, if the solid waste collection system has not been regularised in your community and there is a large accumulation of waste, and you must burn, burn at community designated burning locations,” the NEOC had stated on Wednesday September 27, 2018.
However, earlier this week, Chief Environmental Health Officer Mr Lionel E. Michael put the brakes on this action.
In a Government Information Service (GIS) statement on February 21, 2018, he appealed to residents to “refrain from backyard burning because of the environmental and personal health impact on the community.”
Mr Michael said if the practice continues it will “affect young children, the elderly, asthmatics and persons with compromised immune systems.”
Stop the open burning- Lionel E. Michael
In backing up his decision to ask the public to stop backyard burning of trash, the new environmental boss told government “Backyard burning is also harmful to the environment and a potential fire hazard.”
Mr Michael further stated that proper disposal of waste is a matter of health importance. “It helps to improve aesthetics and reduces pests’ infestation; however, we are asking the community to avoid burning and to dispose of their waste in a safe public health manner,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Waste Management Department, a government agency, has said it does not engage in open burning, however, a fire at one of its landfill sites at Pockwood Pond, Tortola, recently caused much alarm on St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, as the smoke was said to be reaching both St John and St Thomas.
Manager of Solid Waste Department, Mr Greg R. Massicote, had said then that the fire may have started with combustible materials exposed at the dump site that was created after the incinerator was affected by shortage of power after the hurricanes in September 2017 and then just around Christmas eve when the backup generator for the incinerator developed problems.
There are also reports that the Department engages in open burning on Virgin Gorda.
The role of Environmental Health Division
According to a government spokeswoman, Natasha Lettsome, in the same press release, she said “The Environmental Health Division is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the environment with the potential to negatively impact health are managed efficiently to enable all persons in the BVI to attain and maintain optimal health and social well-being.”
Meanwhile, Mr Massicote could not be reached for a comment up to publication time.
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16 Responses to “‘Stop backyard burning’- CEHO- Lionel E. Michael”
IF PEOPLE CANT AFFORD THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTING OR MAINTAINING THEIR HOME SELL IT.
government so silly it can't understand that backyard burning can create national health crisis. Fire department often let the pile burn out instead of putting it out on arrival and issuing a citation.
What backwardness in a country! Smhhhh
Districts need more autonomy to self generate revenue to better facilitateself help anddistrict development.
Batman: Obviously not, Robin...unless you are the Government. Then you can set a monstrous blaze at Pockwood Pond with impunity and blame it on "spontaneous combustion"
Robin: What about Cox Heath?
Batman: Don't know. It may soon also "spontaneously combust"