The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MYSTERIOUS white foam alleged to have come from a nearby industrial plant showered the Pinder's Point community on Thursday morning, sparking anxiety among some residents there.

Grand Bahama experienced very windy conditions as a result of a strong cold front that moved into the northwest Bahamas on Thursday. The strong high pressure behind the front generated strong winds.

Sometime around 10.30am, residents reported seeing golf-sized balls of foam and some as big as a grapefruit blowing in their backyards, allegedly blowing from the direction of the Buckeye oil storage facility. However, an official denied that any foam emanated from the facility.

Resident Vera Grant told The Tribune white foam was blowing about the area some of it had blown onto her property. She took a sample of the foam, and said she immediately contacted Buckeye officials, operators of the Bahamas Oil Refining Co (BORCO).

When The Tribune arrived at Mrs Grant's home - which is located just northeast of several Buckeye oil tanks - the foam or sludge had already dissipated. The resident collected the grainy white residue in a container.

The sample was turned over to a representative of the Grand Bahama Environmental Association (GBEA), which will have the substance analysed.

Mrs Grant was preparing to hang her laundry outside when she noticed the shower of foam blowing in the wind.

"I was sitting down, and I saw foam flying past the window; some was as big as a grapefruit and in different sizes. I did not know what it was and I called over there (Buckeye), and a guy said that he would contact his supervisor.

"He called me back and said that it (the foam) was harmless and that it was okay to hang my clothes outside. He said I did the right thing by calling them," she claimed.

The Tribune contacted Buckeye and spoke with Oneil Wildgoose, who identified himself as the health and safety manager. When questioned whether the company had received any complaints from a resident of Pinder's Point concerning foam from the Buckeye property, he denied the incident.

"It never happened this morning; nothing was floating from the BORCO facility today," Mr Wildgoose said.

He told The Tribune he would check and that this newspaper should call back in 45 minutes. However, subsequent phone calls were not answered.

Resident Jason Darling said that he also saw the foam in the area.

"There was a large quantity of foam or sludge blowing around in the yard here," he said.

Mr Darling said that the government needs to address the alleged industrial pollution in the Pinder's Point area. He said residents and families are coming into contact with the foam, and are being exposed to strong fumes and odours.

Ongoing chemical emissions, oil spills, and health and safety concerns have been main issues confronting residents living in the Pinder's Point, Lewis Yard, Hawksbill, and the other surrounding communities near the industrial plants over the past four decades.

Shuffel Hepburn, a member of GBEA, said it is not the first time that foam has been blown into the Pinder's Point community.

"I received a call from Mrs Grant about the foam floating over . . . to their backyards, and so I came down here.

"However, by the time I got down here it (the foam) had stopped because she had already called (officials), but she trapped some in a container, and we plan to get it analysed," he said.

Mr Hepburn noted that sometimes fire drills are conducted, but residents are not informed.

He said that the GBEA is still waiting to meet with the Minister of Environment and Housing Romauld Ferriera, who promised to meet with residents at a town hall in early January.

"That has not happened and they have not said to us why it has not happened, and why we have not heard from him," Mr Hepburn said.

He said that residents are tired and want their issues addressed. The organisation has been calling for the relocation of residents from the area.