PLEASE FIND BELOW an email I sent to environmental health [department]. To date I have had no response from the department.
I wish to draw to your attention the damage being done to the environment and the people living in it.
Portvale [sugar factory] is burning 24 hours a day. That’s not a problem; it has to be done if the sugar cane industry and its employees are to survive, but surely this should not be to the detriment of the health and comfort of the rest of the local population, due to there either not being fitted, or not being properly maintained, filters.
Particulates of very fine dust are being deposited across Holetown and a wide area of St James.
This fine dust is known throughout the world as the cause of many respiratory problems and infections, and certainly aggravates and creates sore throats, breathing difficulties and many other diseases linked to respiratory problems, not to mention the amount of extra water (which we all pay for and is a precious commodity on this island as you know) being used daily to try and keep [clean] our properties, clothes – which cannot be dried outside as they just get dirty again, hence more electricity used by dryers by those fortunate enough to have them.
Those that cannot dry inside risk aggravation to various skin complaints because of the deposit of particulates on their clothes. I am seeing people washing cars daily because of the black film being dumped on their vehicles (more waste).
Sirs, I implore you to make a site visit to Portvale and to the surrounding areas, especially Holetown, and take your own readings of the air we are all having to breath in before someone is seriously taken ill due to lung infections, especially the very young – babies – or the very old, who are more susceptible.
– BARRY C MOSTRAN
