The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO international health organisations will be brought to Grand Bahama to conduct a major health and environment risk assessment study in the communities near the Freeport Industrial Park.

Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville said government expects to sign a contract as early as next week with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to conduct a much-needed study of the Pinder’s Point/Lewis Yard areas.

“In the last budget cycle, we contacted PAHO and WHO to guide us with our health and environment assessment for residents of Lewis Yard, Pinder’s Point and the surrounding areas. That contract will be signed next Monday with PAHO and WHO right here,” he said.

Dr Darville said they felt it was important to get two “well-respected” organisations onboard to undertake a study of the area. “It was a lot of work to put it together, but we were convinced that the credibility of the study must come with a stamp from a well respected organisation, and what better organisations that will guide us with the health and environment risk assessment for Pinder’s Point and Lewis Yard that will definitely tell us what we need to know going forward.”

He said the study would be done in conjunction with local, national and foreign consultants to ensure that it meets international criteria.

“It will be a conclusive study ... so that we are able to put an end to the vexing issue of what are the health and risk assessments for people who live in that area,” Dr Darville said.

Residents of the Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard and Hawksbill communities have been plagued with pollution from nearby industrial plants for years.

There have been ongoing oil spills and chemical emissions from time to time, which may have contributed to a number of health issues among residents in the area.

There have been high incidences of cancer and birth deformities. Residents have also complained of respiratory problems, skin, eye and nose irritation.

For the past 25 years, residents and educators have called on successive governments and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to address their concerns about the odours and spills.

In the latter part of the 1980s, two major high schools – the Grand Bahama Catholic High School and the government’s Hawksbill Senior and Junior Schools – were relocated from the Hawksbill area after students and teachers continually became ill as a result of odours emanating from the plant.

Educator Joseph Darville was one of several persons who petitioned the government and the Port Authority to relocate the schools.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had also expressed concerns about the close proximity of the industrial plants to homes in the area and said that his government would undertake a social assessment for the relocation of residents.

Four months after taking office in 2012, the PLP government relocated the Lewis Yard Primary School to the St Vincent de Paul School campus in Hunters.