THE GOVERNMENT HAS made good on its promise to have the sluice gate opened.
Following the events of the South Coast sewage leak and multiple complaints from residents and businesses alike, it was announced that the gate would be operational when need be.
Due to the Barbados Meteorological Service flood warning on Thursday, a press release from the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) said the gate would be opened until that flood warning was discontinued.
While not cautioning against bathing at the Worthing Beach while the gate was open, the release said the discoloured water was not sewage but was due to vegetation from the nearby Graeme Hall Swamp.
This decision matched the call by many long-time residents of the Worthing area to have the gates operated regularly.
Director of the Waste Water Recovery Programme at the Barbados Water Authority, Patricia Inniss, told the WEEKEND NATION that this action was a part of a multi-sectoral approach the Government agreed to.
“Because of the multi-sectoral approach we spoke of, the [Environmental Protection Department], the Ministry of Health and the Barbados Water Authority [are] monitoring that on a daily basis,” Inniss said.
“It is also something we should be doing for a longer length of time until a more permanent solution is brought up,” she said, adding that it was important to have communication between the aforementioned organisations.
This communication was necessary to keep the best interest of the swamp, beach and tourism at the forefront, she added. (AD)
