The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

What is happening with the medical tests and followup support for residents of Marathon who were possibly affected by toxic chemicals as a result of the fuel spill from the Rubis station on Robinson Road?

After two years of ducking, dodging and pretending the problem didn’t exist, the government finally organised for health screenings of residents to be conducted in May and June.

From what I can gather, these screenings were superficial at best and only a fraction of the residents who are concerned about their health were seen by medical professionals. The government then organised for followup visits to a clinic for all those who were screened.

So now what happens? Is that it?

Anyone who knows anything about hydrocarbon poisoning knows two facts:

1) That ongoing, perhaps lifetime screening is necessary, as many of the aggressive diseases, including cancer, that can result often take years to manifest themselves.

And 2) The only real way to tell whether a person is likely to have absorbed these dangerous toxins is a biopsy of a fatty tissue sample. In other words, expensive and invasive testing that goes beyond the mere screening of blood and urine samples.

The residents of Marathon were told as much by a local doctor at a recent town meeting, so it would do no good for the authorities to seek to pull the wool over our eyes in this regard.

Are such comprehensive tests being conducted at the clinic to which Marathon residents have been referred? Will there be a chance of medical screenings for other members of the community who may live a bit farther from the station but are still in fear for their safety and that of their family? Will the government commit to regular, free screening for these residents for the foreseeable future, in order to catch any resulting diseases at the early stage?

And finally, will the government commit to taking legal action against the fuel company under whose watch the spill took place, and use any damages won to create a medical fund for the people of Marathon, so they can look forward to top class medical services in the future?

These and many more questions remain unanswered.

TOM PAINE

Nassau,

September 20, 2015.