THE Sargassum seaweed problem has evoked the usual Barbados Government response: “Say little or nothing and it willngo away by attrition”.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Government, this is a national emergency and should be treated as such. The situation may have been created by months of persistent heavy north-easterly winds and as a result, we have not a battle but a war on our hands.
We have hundreds of acres of land lying fallow. Dump trucks should be moving back and forth carting the seaweed and dumping it on such lands previously identified by the landowners. Trucking companies shall be able to claim from their tax obligation $10 per load.
I know it is heartbreaking to clear one day only to have another build-up on the next day, but that is the nature of the battle until the winds subside and the natural currents can once again come to our rescue.
Days of battle will be long but we all must be involved. Who shall be the leader in these circumstances?
– Michael Rudder
