Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

BVI Cancer Society joins struggle against open burning @ Pockwood Pond

BVI Cancer Society joins struggle against open burning @ Pockwood Pond

Noting that individuals are fearing for their health, the BVI Cancer Society has joined the struggle to pressure the government to fix the issues of garbage and landfill fires at Pockwood Pond.

This comes after a handful of First District residents protested outside the House of Assembly while it was in session in Road Town yesterday, April 17, 2023.

“We, the BVI Cancer Society, are deeply saddened and distressed by the ongoing open burning situation that continues to affect our beloved residents in the Third District, and across the

entire Western End of Tortola. Our hearts are heavy with the knowledge that our fellow citizens are breathing in toxic fumes, and we cannot ignore the potential impact this may have on their health and well-being,” the Society stated in a press release late Monday, April 17, 2023.

A landfill fire at Pockwood Pond last night, April 17, 2023.



‘We cannot stand idly by while our people suffer’- BVI Cancer Society

It said it has received numerous calls from concerned residents, who fear for themselves and their families.

“They worry about the correlation between the harmful smoke and what appears to be a rising number of cancer cases in the area. As an advocate for health issues in the Territory, we cannot stand idly by while our people suffer.”

The BVI Cancer Society said it is resolute in its stance that this is a Territorial health concern and has implored the current and future governments to take this situation seriously and act swiftly to alleviate the distress of fellow citizens.

“We cannot ignore the very real consequences of this issue, as it impacts not only the health of our residents, but also the environmental health of our beautiful islands.”

Heartbreaking reports

The BVI Cancer Society also said during the past weekend it received heartbreaking reports of individuals struggling to breathe and feeling trapped by the relentless smoke in their homes.

“This is a clear indication that the situation has reached a critical level, and the time for change is now.

The BVI Cancer Society pledges to continue monitoring this issue and to keep it at the forefront of public awareness until tangible actions are taken to resolve it. The entire Territory deserves to live in a safe and healthy environment, and as an advocacy organisation the BVI Cancer Society is lending its voice by calling on the incoming government to commit to placing this health-compromising issue as a priority.”

The Society is calling on the government, community leaders, and citizens to join it in demanding an explanation as to why the incinerator remains in its current state.

Landfill fires are seen almost daily at Pockwood Pond.



Hon Penn apologises

Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) yesterday apologised to the people of the First District affected by the opening burning and promised to resolve the issues promptly.

The Health Minister also said the Government on Friday sent a cheque to get a control panel for the incinerator, which has been down since February 2021, due to a fire.

The Minister could not give a timeline as to when the issues of open burning would be resolved.

Landfill fires are seen almost daily at Pockwood Pond.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×