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Persons starting to think VI environment a contributor to cancer– Cromwell Smith

- calls for aggressive funding towards investigations, prevention & treatment in VI
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka ‘Edju enka’ has called for aggressive funding towards cancer treatment and prevention in the Virgin Islands, which he says comes as high number of persons are dying of the disease locally. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Cromwell Smith was at the time having a discussion with Rotary Club of Tortola’s Lorna G. Smith on the fundraiser and the need for more research in cancer treatment and prevention in the VI. Photo: Facebook
Mr Cromwell Smith was at the time having a discussion with Rotary Club of Tortola’s Lorna G. Smith on the fundraiser and the need for more research in cancer treatment and prevention in the VI. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Lamenting that a high number of persons are dying of cancer in the Virgin Islands, talk show host Cromwell Smith aka ‘Edju En Ka’ has called for aggressive funding towards investigations into possible environmental causes of cancer as well as cancer treatment and prevention in the Virgin Islands (VI).

The Rotary Club of Tortola is hosting Grand Affair 'Havana Night' on March 23, 2023, with proceeds going towards funding and improving cancer prevention and treatment as well as expansion of the local Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP).

Mr Smith was at the time having a discussion with Rotary Club of Tortola’s Lorna G. Smith on the fundraiser and the need for more research and funding for cancer treatment and prevention in the VI. 

“Over the last several months, we've had a lot of [cancer] passings and we continue over the years actually and it seems to be like, let me just say persons are beginning to think that we have an environmental problem that's contributing to the development of cancer," Mr Smith stated on his show Umoja on ZBVI 780AM on January 16, 2023.

He said the proliferation of death by cancer in the Virgin Islands is now at a rate that warrants investigation, as well as the need to focus on cancer prevention.

Need for investigative funding 

“We need investigations funding to look at the environment to see where in the environment and what [in the] environment is causing the increase in cancer patients,” he added. 

According to Mrs Smith, data is needed to do much to improve services in the VI, “As far as possible we should know whether there is evidence of this... what our suspicions are” she said as it relates to environmental contributors to cancer in the VI. 

Mr Smith said, overall, the funding in the VI must be able to contribute to an assessment of environmental issues as well as the prevention of cancers, along with treatment of the disease. 

32 Responses to “Persons starting to think VI environment a contributor to cancer– Cromwell Smith ”

  • resident (17/01/2023, 09:48) Like (36) Dislike (0) Reply
    We still burn our trash in the open down pockwood pond
    • But (17/01/2023, 16:46) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Cancer happened everywhere. It’s our modern way of life with processed food and plastics that causes it.
  • Mickey Dee (17/01/2023, 09:51) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Please test the water, the answer can be found therein
  • WOW (17/01/2023, 09:54) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Really good topic bro. Stress levels are very high , and stress is the No. 1 cause of cancer.
  • Melba (17/01/2023, 09:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Social Security and NHI .
  • ?? (17/01/2023, 10:24) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    check our meds, cistern water, the regular vaccines, our local fish
  • Scientist (17/01/2023, 10:53) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Where’s the data? Any scientific studies to support these opinions?
  • Necessary (17/01/2023, 10:58) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    This research is necessary -- it's a concern that has been expressed for many years. In the early 2000s there was a doctor at Bougainvillea (I think he was Dr. Frederick Coville) who tried to conduct a study, but could get no information. For the size of our population, the cancer rate indeed seems to be very high.
    • @necessay (17/01/2023, 16:48) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      How do you know our cancer rates are high if you say there’s no information?
      • @@necessary (18/01/2023, 08:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Even experts in different fields reference anecdotal evidence - it's often what leads to formal research in a particular area.
    • Scientist (18/01/2023, 09:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Again, where is the data? What do you mean by cancer rate seems very high? How many cases per year? Age-adjusted rates (cancer occurs more in older people)? Rates by organ (lung, breast, colo-rectal, prostatic)? How do these rates compare with other Caribbean nations? The article reports an unsubstantiated opinion without data. However, it does highlight the value of keeping public health statistics as means of insight as to how to prioritize public health expenditures.
  • WHAT!!!! (17/01/2023, 11:18) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    No need for investigation.
    Open burning at Pockwood Pond,
    Bad diet, you are what you eat.
  • @wHAT (17/01/2023, 11:44) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with you. Diet in the BVI is deplorable. Carbs on carbs on carbs. Sugar in everything. Juice juice juice
    Alcohol galore. When I go in some restaurants I want to gag at the sight of all the grease and smell of oil. As early as 7 am you have people in the supermarket buying a beer or guineas! We got to do better when it comes to health. More education is definitely needed. How about a show that demonstrates how to cook healthy dishes. The college can start something. We need a local channel to educate the public otherwise we are going to overwhelm our health care system and have more deaths from chronic diseases.
  • Native seniir citizen of the Britush Virgin Island (17/01/2023, 11:45) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    Mr. Cromwell Smith, I find that your views that the BVI may be a possible cause for high cancer death very much unfounded. We here in the BVI imports aproximately 99.9% of all the foods items we have c
    eaten, and continuing. Many know and unknown to us chemicals are present in those food items.
    In addition to the above we import 100% of variouse chemecals that exposed us daily to to possible cancerious effects.
    The wind blows throughout the earth from country to country, so do people daily. Cancerous chemicals are present in the air that we breathe, and also many industrial items we are using daily

    To make a long comment short, you are nit a qualified medical expert on this topic issue. I would am now suggesting to you to zip up you mouth. Your thoughts, and words on this issue are mere speculations viod of medical evidences. Talk more of what you know of, rather than what you and others can't prove at this time on this deadly decease, cancer.


  • Really (17/01/2023, 12:03) Like (5) Dislike (18) Reply
    Everyone lately is dying from cancer,strokes,heart attack. Wake up the mRNA COVID 19 vaccine is causing all cancer is number one coming from the vaccine all who had cancer and it went away it came back. We warned you all about these shots but you all are altered so you don't know what truth is. Go test your blood all of you vaccinated people and also take a HIV test,and a d dimer test
    • @Really (17/01/2023, 16:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Really? Everyone is dying from cancer, strokes and heart attacks?
      That’s great news. It’s going to be so good now to only have to worry about the entire planet’s population dying from only three causes. No wars, road accidents, AIDS, dementia, natural causes, drowning, poisoning, murder, suicide. Need I continue?
  • reality (17/01/2023, 12:08) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This topic has been ignored for way too long and year after year we are losing so many of our loved ones to cancer. Just take a look at the first district for argument sake; how many persons die and continue to die from cancer in D1. The rate is alarming. Yet still the MOH and the Health Services Authority don’t see the need to conduct a survey to determine what is contributing to this. Hats off to Lorna and the Rotary Club for undertaking this important initiative.
  • WO (17/01/2023, 12:24) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    FIX THE DUMP
    FIX THE DUMP
  • Please. Stop it.. (17/01/2023, 13:46) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    First. Half of those cases they call Cancer aint cancer but its easy to blame cancer when you get really sick from bad medicine and HIV...Second. most of these Doctors aint no what they are doing, its greed, tell you come back, come back, come back to get as much money as they can from you by the time you get really sick they run their tests what they should have done in the first place the person too far gone...Lets get real and honest.
    ..
  • 999 (17/01/2023, 14:04) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    cruise ship passengers coughing, and sneezing in the atmosphere
  • @ SENIOR CITIZEN (17/01/2023, 14:04) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I loved the way you handled that joker ( edo in E car ) and I will add something that some of us may not be aware of ( MEDICATIONS ) these pharmaceutical companies are designing their products with a ton loads of ( SIDE EFFECTS ) and the doctors are not telling you of it , only , take one 3 timed daily or one once a day / you will have to read the paper inside the box to find out what you are going to be putting in your body , when you think you got your problem under control , mine was cholesterol , then after months of feeling you got it down and getting you regular check ups , then then ,( BLOOD PRESSURE ) shows up and it's another set of medications again / and the same thing happened again after months of treatment and getting it down and feeling relieved / guess what ,? SUGAR shows up , so according to what your medical problem is , the medication prescribed for it , the side effects can cause certain types of CANCERS AMD vthe loving DOCTOR would never say a word to the patient / but they will make sure they collect the money before you die ,/ they and pharmaceutical companies seems to be working together ,( believe it or not ????
  • smh! (17/01/2023, 14:19) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well first it is what we as human beings eat and drink. All humans have cancer cells but if your body ph level is acidic you will run into problems. If alkaline, then you pretty much have nothing to worry about. There are other factors like smoking and last but not least the open air burning of cacogenic materials in Pockwood Pond.
  • WEW (17/01/2023, 16:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cancer rates West End are Ridiculously high thanks to Pockwood dump burning
  • Tbt (17/01/2023, 17:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Check on the people west of the dump. Asthma emphysema all kinds of respiratory issues, dint talk about cancer
  • Forbidden Truth (17/01/2023, 18:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why spend money when people can stop as the ISVI Governor say.....stop slucksin down the bad food yall eating. Chuupes
  • See (17/01/2023, 20:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Toxic smoke from the dump
    Raw sewage dumped in the ocean and streets
    Poisonous chemicals used and leaching from the boat yards.
    Just a couple of no brainers for the suits to ponder but nothing but nothing will be done.
  • Let the truth be told (17/01/2023, 21:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The medical field has become a playing field for the doctors and the pharmaceutical companies ,they are like predators , it's all about the money . AMEN
  • we (17/01/2023, 21:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    ARE JUST GUINEA PIGS OR LAMBS FOR THE SLAUGHTER , PLAIN AND SIMPLE
    .
  • E. Leonard (17/01/2023, 21:26) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Perhaps, the starting point to identifying the cause(s), environmental factors, diet, etc, for the increasing cancer rate can be identifying the timeline that the rate of cancer was at a lower or normal rate. Time identified, a close review should be conducted of the changes that occurred since the identified period. Moreover, Some believe that the change of diet from fresh organic foods, ie, fresh fish, meat, poultry, fruits, and vegetables, ground providion, etc, to high processed imported food which are laden with high salt, sugar, fat and calories may be a contributing cause. There is no scientific data to support such claim. A comprehensive and aggressive investigation may identify the true contributing cause(s). An investigation must be on government urgent TDL.
    • Basic Troubleshooting . (18/01/2023, 14:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Indeed , this basic troubleshooting, ie, finding the norm or quiescent state and then determining what changed, if anything.
  • Factors (18/01/2023, 04:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Include high stress levels, too much fat, sugar, alcohol in our diets ( potato and rice in same dish? And mac pie? Really?), open burnjng of toxic materials, and wait! All these moldy buildings! Govt buildings are full of it. Schools, and more


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