The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Pinder’s Point Lewis Yard Environmental Committee claims that area industrial plants pose health risks not only to the five nearby settlements, but to at least ten communities in total in Grand Bahama.

The committee claimed that the subdivisions of Hawksbill, Regency Park, Wellington Pinder Heights, Sunrise Subdivision, and even some parts of South Bahamia are affected.

Last week Tuesday, the committee and a group of residents from Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Hunters, and Seaco Town staged a protest at the Freeport Industrial Park on West Sunrise Highway.

“The government is turning a blind eye to the reports that have proved that there are significant risks to these residents every day of their lives,” said members of the committee.

The committee was very critical of comments made by Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville in response to last week’s protest.

They believe that Dr Darville’s announcement of plans to launch a 13-week study is just a political ploy.

“The 13-week study starting in January will run all the way to mid or the end of April 2017. The results will not be out until after election. We see this as ‘a spin’ to make the residents think the government is doing something for them. We are not buying what Dr Darville and the government are selling.”

The committee stated that the residents living around the industrial plants do not accept a Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation report recently tabled in the House of Assembly by Minister Darville that there are no health risks from living near the industrial plants.

“It is not factual in its conclusion. We are 100 per cent certain that living near the industrial plants is dangerous to our health. With 2,000 residents unaccounted for in the study, the results are distorted, inconclusive and unreliable,” the committee claimed.

The committee also argued that the electronic noses - devices that detect odours - that were installed throughout the communities are too high above the residents and the actual air they breathe.

“We are asking the government to remove the eNose… as they are measuring the quality of the air high above the residents,” committee members said.

The committee contends that hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air and will be more highly concentrated closer to the ground.

“We do not trust PAHO to produce a reliable and factual study as they have already proved otherwise,” the committee said.

In 1989, two institutions were relocated from the Hawksbill area to Freeport, and just last year the government relocated the Lewis Yard Primary School to the St Vincent de Paul School campus.

“The evidence proving that living near the industrial plants pose health risks to the residents of Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Hunters, Hawksbill, Wellington Heights, Mack Town and Seaco Town was established when Catholic High, Hawksbill High and Primary were relocated 30 years ago. This evidence was re-established when Lewis Yard Primary was relocated in 2015, almost 30 years later. And reconfirmed again when Lewis Yard Primary was shut down because of sickening odours three weeks ago.”

The committee noted that residents around the industrial plants and all the way to Regency Park and Bahamia are also affected.

The committee claimed that statements made by Dr Darville demonstrates a lack of concern about what residents think.

“Dr Darville is on the side of the industrial plants. He was happy to tell the House of Assembly and the Bahamas that they finally have evidence that living near the industrial plants pose no risk to the residents.

“Dr Darville is telling the residents that the industrial plants are more important than the residents.

“We would like for Dr Darville to look directly in the eyes of the residents and assure them that he is acting in their best interest.”

The committee, which is calling for the relocation of residents, is planning more protests to bring awareness about the situation.