Hon Vincent O. Wheatley visits Pockwood Pond incinerator & landfill site
The site continues to be plagued by numerous uncontrollable fires over the years and has thus resulted in heightened complaints from residents in its surrounding environs.
Affected residents, particularly in the First District, have attributed certain illnesses, including cancer, to the open burning activities.
'Waste Management is a priority'- Hon Wheatley
In a social media post made via his personal Facebook page, Hon Wheatley shared that he is taking a hands-on approach to the situation.
“If you know me then you know that I am hands-on, first trip to the incinerator, second day on the job. Waste Management is a priority for this Government,” he said.
Hon Wheatley was accompanied on the site visit by Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Hon Karl Dawson, who is also the First District Representative.
Following two of the most recent intense and uncontrollable fires at the location, affected residents of the First District staged a protest at the House of Assembly on April 17, 2023.
Additionally, on April 20, 2023, residents of the District started a petition on change.org demanding a speedy solution to the constant landfill fires.
Petition launched
The petition has so far managed to garner 775 signatures.
The petition highlighted that the “highly toxic chemicals” produced by the open burning activities affect agriculture and livestock by settling on crops, ending up in cistern water, water table, beaches and waterways which eventually end up in food, on skin and body, thereby affecting overall health.
The BVI Cancer Society had also joined the struggle against open burning at the site noting that the toxic fumes have a potential impact on the overall health and well-being of residents.
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) Candidate Sylvia C. Romney- Moses had indicated during a political debate on April 18, 2023, that the issue of open burning was responsible for residents developing cancer.
Then Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) had apologised to residents following the protest, while noting that a cheque was sent to order a control panel for the incinerator which was damaged by fire since 2021.
Hon Penn; However, had failed to give a timeline as to when the issue would be resolved.
Hon Penn had also shut down a proposed plan by former Health Minister Carvin Malone for mini incinerators to tackle the current waste management issues, as he referred to the initiative as ‘nonsense’.
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27 Responses to “Hon Vincent O. Wheatley visits Pockwood Pond incinerator & landfill site”
Wtf can you do
4more years you all haters will be seeing team vip
And then 4more years to come
2027 is a clear win !
Do your part hon. The official will come when you relates to them think we have money to waste to have them come without we answering questions if needs be !
That's why LORNA IS IN VIPCORNER
ALL YOU TEK THAT AND SMOKE IT FOR A LOOOOG TIME
YOU HATERS
We not gonna be intimidated by you all wana be ministers and Hon. next election go make your self available and then you will understand the real deal
Go team vip I want see pictures in everything you all do cause they always say my team vip don’t so nothing
You all so dumb this apart of politics
You wanted him to go in overall ,big boosts and tam
Ok ,donate all the gears and others never know he was to show up in torn clothes he have to return to his office and other meetings
You think these ministers life is east it’s not enough hours in a day for them !
Years,and years its bean going on
Health, not help. Well, residents need protection and help. Residents need baseline health screening and put on a periodic monitoring plan. Ideally, health should be led by someone with medical experience. This is one of the flaws of the Westminister system, working with those elected, not necessarily the best suited, putting a live body in a slot and expecting magical outcomes. What do legislators do? They don’t draft legislation, they don’t read draft legislation, some are lost in ministerial assignment(s), the debates in HoA are often lacking form an substance, etc. Ministers need help. I read in another blog on Permanent Secretaries( PS), the most senior civil servants, are accounting officers and administrators, not subject matter experts. What the $....
We hsve huge problem he has gone to see how his gover.ment will tackle such situstion..you all condem...
Tell me what we realy want..all you who condeming go get alife and fix your gabage going fron your house and it wont be like this
Set ta waste....marlon cancel the machinery not a word of condem.......people like you will cause a plauge to come our shores idiots