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Some dead whales ‘will be dragged to the ocean’- Hon Turnbull

- said Gov’t ‘working with solutions’ to try to dispose of dead whales
From left: Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL); Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2); Governor John J. Rankin, CMG; and Deputy Premier Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) in Anegada on July 4, 2022. Photo: VINO
A dead Shortfin pilot whale at Anegada on July 5, 2022. Photo: VINO
A dead Shortfin pilot whale at Anegada on July 5, 2022. Photo: VINO
Some of the members of the team that visited the area of the beached whales on Anegada on July 4, 2022. Photo: VINO
Some of the members of the team that visited the area of the beached whales on Anegada on July 4, 2022. Photo: VINO
THE SETTLEMENT, Anegada, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands is working to dispose of the more than 50 dead Shortfin pilot whales discovered on the East End of Anegada at the weekend.

Some of them will be dragged out to the open ocean, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) has said.

Hon Turnbull was part of a team that visited the area on Monday, June 4, 2022. Others included Deputy Premier  Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5); Governor John J. Rankin, CMG; Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL); Marine Biologists Mervin D. Hastings and Argel Horton; Rotary members, fishermen, tour guides and other persons.

Situation ‘damaging & dooming’- Hon Turnbull

“We are here where the whales have been beached. Some of them have been swollen.

The teams are here, the situation is much more damaging and dooming than we have seen in the pictures,” Hon Turnbull commented.

Hon Turnbull added: “We are working with solutions to try to dispose of these animals, samples are being collected by the scientists.”

Disposal

The Minister said Government is “going to make a decision really soon” to move the dead whales off the beach.

“Some of them will be dragged to the ocean to continue the circle of life, so to speak,” Hon Turnbull disclosed.

The pod of whales was estimated to be some 150 observed in the area.

The public has been urged to stay out of the water around the dead whales and to notify the Ministry of any more possible sightings of strandings in the Territory.

“I want to assure the people of the Virgin Islands, the tourists, the fishermen, the divers and all persons in this territory to know that this is important and we want you to keep safe. We want you to avoid being in the waters diving and fishing around this time being, until we can bring about the solutions,” Hon Turnbull stated.

16 Responses to “Some dead whales ‘will be dragged to the ocean’- Hon Turnbull”

  • Mia (05/07/2022, 09:37) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Where was Vincent our representative?
    • Tasty (05/07/2022, 17:24) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
      The whales heard Mrs Parsons racist views and decided to commit suicide!
  • MinisterMumu (05/07/2022, 10:42) Like (22) Dislike (8) Reply
    That make any sense? Dig a gigantic hole and bury the whole lot. That's what you have excavators, trucks and cranes for. What if the dead whales washes up somewhere else once they have been dragged back into the ocean?
    • Correction (05/07/2022, 10:55) Like (31) Dislike (3) Reply
      Actually, taking them out to sea makes the most sense. that way, the sea life that feeds on dead animals have something to eat and the circle of life continues. putting them in a whole does not accomplish that. nature is a wonderful mechanism for taking care of these things. lets let it do that
      • THANK U (05/07/2022, 15:41) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ministermumu

        Correction have said it all. Sea life bodies are not meant to decompose out of the ocean. The quicker they get them out there the better. My recommendation is to drag them beyond the drop of point north of there or north of the reef and sits between the drop off point and the and island if not all a few for the marine life there.


        but drag them all beyond the drop off point and let the sea take care of them
    • @MumuMinister (05/07/2022, 17:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Anegada is made of coral and Limestone (which is very hard). Exactly how will you dig a big hole unless you plan to bury them on the beach? You people always come on here talking nonsense. Obviously taking them back out to the ocean that they came from will make the most sense. The sharks will eat them and there will be very little left, if anything at all.
  • Sammy (05/07/2022, 10:56) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Five days of head scratching so far.
  • HMMM (05/07/2022, 11:29) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is an omin that the HOA should take seriously. They're next
  • tigers (05/07/2022, 11:41) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Errr….that’s gonna bring in all the tiger sharks for a feeding frenzy….feeding tigers around the islands isn’t a great idea
  • my2cents (05/07/2022, 12:28) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Feed the sharks and crabs etc let the cycle continue...
  • down2earth (05/07/2022, 12:32) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    "the situation is much more damaging and dooming than we have seen in the pictures,” Hon Turnbull commented." ???????
  • Really (05/07/2022, 15:41) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Since you don t know what wrong with the whales cremate them . Or bury them not send them back out to sea to do what cause a new pamdemic and make us all sick . They came in there must be a reason they know more than you ,don,t take them back out please tourism is our livily hood you making a mistake . Please stop being fools our territory is under r attach don,t help to distroy the little you have left we need the sea . All these scientist and rich foke and adviser don,t have to live here and they all working for people you know nothing about . Be wise don,t take them back oit to sea get them out the sea asap . Becareful BVI something is not right BVI is in trouble be wise pray don,t just act
    • @Minister mumu and Really (07/07/2022, 10:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Humans with all sorts of diseases are buried at sea so why wouldn't you bury a whale there and that is its natural habitat. Sea creatures die all the time in the sea.
  • grim reaper (05/07/2022, 16:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let the usvi send up some of their people who deal with marine biology to help
  • lol (05/07/2022, 17:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor has his pants rolled up and ready to go to work. Stand back Unity Crew, the Governor will take care of this mess too...
  • Jack Husbands (05/07/2022, 19:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There may be environmental benefits of leaving the whales to rot where they are, Perhaps that option might be considered


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