The Asphalt Plant is a public nuisance- Workers; Residents
Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, several persons living in the Fish Bay community said the dust emitted from the Asphalt Plant there is a public nuisance and even blames it for a number of upper respiratory infections and chronic illnesses. In the absence of data to prove this allegation, persons filing the complaints said their claims can be justified. They challenged the Ministry of Health to conduct a survey of the prevalence of respiratory infections among persons who would have direct contact with the plant and residents in the area as compared to any other community of the same geographic size.
“This thing is so bad I tell you, when they throw on that plant man is so dust does take over this place,” said a man working at the Asphalt Plant. He asked not to be named for the fear of victimisation. He said that more often than not workers are forced to wear nose guards whenever the plant is in operation. “I don’t know if they never look at it but most times when they put on the plant its around lunch time,” he said.
According to workers, dust particles would enter their meals and nasal passage causing much discomfort. “Boy when you see you go home and you blow your nose is sheer thick stuff, dust pack up in your nose,” added another worker. “It does make people sick man, and the government people know this…but the thing is the very authorities find themselves in a compromising position because the ones who own this land (where the plant is housed) are the very ones in senior seats in the government.”
Persons living in the community also expressed frustration about the level of dust emitted from the plant. They claimed that some businesses are forced to maintain sealed building thus consuming excessive amount of electricity daily by having to run air-conditioning units all day. “Don’t talk about how it does got we house, every minute you to be cleaning, your walls is a mess and your window curtains carries most of the evidence,” said one resident.
Securing a comment for the Ministry of Health was not possible at the time of following these claims of workers and residents but this news agency will continue to pursue same.
However, it is a fact that this issue has not gone blind folded by the Government as it was highlighted and aggressively pursued. The evidence of this lies in the lines of the Department of Public Department’s 2011 report presented in the House of Assembly by Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark. H. Vanterpool. The report stated that Government was looking at purchasing a new plant, which may cost in the vicinity of $1M. They are also exploring the possibility of having it constructed at another site.
The issue had also caught the attention of Senior Executive Service employee with the United States of America (USA) Government Department of Energy (DOE); internationally recognized environmental scientist and engineer, Dr. Vincent Adams. He had pointed to the possible health implications during an interview, which was published by Virgin Islands News Online.
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17 Responses to “The Asphalt Plant is a public nuisance- Workers; Residents”
Consequently, urgent action is needed to protect workers, residents and the community at large from the toxic effects of plant emmissions. Further, emission standards must be developed, implemented and strictly enforced. Additionally, workers and residents should be medically evaluated and placed on an annual monitoring list. An asphalt undoubtedly is needed but it should located at a cite that poses the least risk to the public yet meet PWD needs. Relocate plant or retrofit plant if cost effective.