The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville has revealed that recommendations have been made for an independently run and year-round environmental monitoring system to be put in place to observe the industrial sector.

This comes as a result of a report by Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) officials, who conducted an Environmental Health Risk Assessment of the Pinder’s Point and Lewis Yard settlements and surrounding areas in December 2014.

The area has been the subject of ongoing industrial pollution, particularly chemical emissions and oil spills for many years. There are claims that there is a high incident rate of cancer and deaths of residents in that area.

During his contribution in the House of Assembly this week, Dr Darville noted that a final report by PAHO/WHO representatives was presented to Cabinet  and is now in the possession of government for final review and will be released in a few weeks.

“I am happy to report to this House that after years of speculation, we will soon be able speak scientifically to the environmental impact of the industrial sector to residents in close proximity to the industrial park,” he said. He noted that there are six conclusions highlighted in the final report consistent with other previously completed studies.

In addition to an environmental monitoring system, the report also recommended safety assessment to be performed regarding the potential threat of fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and explosions to the communities of Pinder’s Point and Lewis Yard and the surrounding areas.

Government had paid $500,000 to commission a study by PAHO/WHO representatives, who conducted onsite data collection in the affected communities and an assessment of the health status of residents due to historical exposures, which took into account cancer cases, respiratory disorders, skin and eye irritations that were provided by Grand Bahama Health Services. Water and air samples were also taken.

PAHO/WHO engaged the institute of Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) of Utrecht University, a WHO accredited centre in The Netherlands, to evaluate empirical environment and health data from the defined residential areas in order to identify harmful exposure that has occurred or is currently occurring, report potential health effects associated with chemical exposures and recommend strategies to protect the public.

Dr Darville said a safety assessment must be conducted and is asking the community to continue to co-operate with the ministry while it is ongoing.

Environmentalist activists have called for the relocation of the residents from the area. Joseph Darville and other educators were instrumental in agitating for the relocation of schools - the Grand Bahama Catholic High and Hawksbill Senior and Primary Schools - from the area in the late 1980s after students and teachers were falling ill from the odours emitted by industrial plants.