The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A PROTEST was staged at the Harold DeGregory Government Complex on Thursday, the second of a series of planned demonstrations by the Pinder’s Point/Lewis Yard Environmental Committee.

The committee and residents gathered outside the complex around noon, demanding the relocation of residents affected by industrial pollution from nearby plants in the industrial park area.

The group wants to bring awareness to the ongoing environmental issues affecting residents of the Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Seaco Town, Hunters, Mack Town, Hawksbill, and Wellington Heights communities.

“We’re continuing our demonstrations to let the government know that we as people have suffered long enough and we are not going to sit back and take it anymore,” said committee Chairman Berthram Pinder.

“We have been patient for over 35 years and we feel it is time the government, industrial plants, and the Grand Bahama Port Authority start to take serious action to…relocate the residents.”

Shuffel Hepburn, committee member, accused the government of siding with the industrial plants.

“We want them to know that the plan they have afoot is not a good plan. It is a plan in favour of the industrial plants and not in favour of residents,” he claimed.

Mr Hepburn said that Prime Minister Perry Christie has not yet responded to a letter sent by the committee about their concerns.

“We want the government to understand the resolve of the people, and we want to keep bringing awareness of these issues and problems to the public’s attention,” he said.

“These problems and issues have gone on for too long and people’s lives are being affected by it. We are determined to keep pressing until we get government to respond.”

Mr Hepburn also criticised the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville.

“No one from government has spoken to us at this point; Minister Darville has said that he was in touch with us and he had not been in touch with us,” he said.

The industrial park borders the communities of Hawksbill, Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard and Seaco Town. In addition to possible harmful emissions, there are concerns that the underground water tables are allegedly contaminated.

“We learnt this week that one of the plants was drilling a storm drain and had to stop almost immediately because of the pungent odours that emanated from the ground. It was so bad that work had to be stopped because of the harmful gases. That tells us the whole ground in these communities are polluted as well,” Mr Hepburn claimed.

He believes that the gas was hydrogen sulfide.

“The ground beneath those plants is a disaster,” he said. “And I understand residents have been asked not to drill wells in their yards, and this must be the reason why. It is a risk to eat anything planted in the back yards of those communities.”

Mr Hepburn said residents of Regency Park and South Bahamia are also affected. He said this fight is not just for residents who live around the plants, but also for employees of the industrial sector and Grand Bahama.