Fix We Must! Malone Says New Incinerator Being Designed
Just over a year before general elections are constitutionally due, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Carvin Malone has announced that a new incinerator for Pockwood Pond is being designed.
Hon. Malone made the announcement last evening, January 29, at a political meeting in the First District, where residents have complained for many years about health risks associated with emissions from the dumpsite.
"The people of the First District would not forgive me if I don't let them know that we're designing a new incinerator for Pockwood Pond so that we can rid ourselves of the nuisance of this smoke. The money has been provided," Hon. Malone stated.
Over the years, there have been repeated incidents of spontaneous combustion at the site. The smoke has caused health concerns locally and in neighboring St. John, United States Virgin Islands. Shortly after the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) came to office in 2019 there was a major flare-up that prompted environmental health officials to supply some 400 air filter masks to affected persons and households in Pockwood Pond and West End areas.
"We must complete this project because I came, I met it. It was one of the promises we made in 2019 that it would be fixed. I didn't know that I would have been in charge of fixing it, but fix we must," Hon. Malone told residents.
Last December, Hon. Malone told BVI Platinum News that the fires are not deliberately set. The Minister said it pains him when it happens.
“We feel the pain, we know the pain and suffering of the folks in the vicinity and they can rest assured that we are doing everything as possible to lessen the likelihood of spontaneous combustion and fires,” Hon. Malone had stated.
There is an ongoing $404,000 contract which Government signed through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to have Woods UK Ltd conduct a feasibility study to develop a modern landfill that contributes to a responsible and circular management of waste in the BVI.
It will, among other things, provide recommendations needed to develop the most responsible and cost-effective means to dispose of landfill waste for the next 40 years. The Minister has called for a combined effort to look fully into the 3R Programme – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
He said if the territory can reduce the volume of waste going into the facility by 30, 40 or 50 %, then we don't to have to continuously upgrade the equipment necessary to treat waste.
Currently, there is only one incinerator and it is aged and from time to time breaks down. When this happens, garbage is dumped on the hillside and in some cases leads to combustion.
"The people of the First District would not forgive me if I don't let them know that we're designing a new incinerator for Pockwood Pond so that we can rid ourselves of the nuisance of this smoke. The money has been provided," Hon. Malone stated.
Over the years, there have been repeated incidents of spontaneous combustion at the site. The smoke has caused health concerns locally and in neighboring St. John, United States Virgin Islands. Shortly after the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) came to office in 2019 there was a major flare-up that prompted environmental health officials to supply some 400 air filter masks to affected persons and households in Pockwood Pond and West End areas.
"We must complete this project because I came, I met it. It was one of the promises we made in 2019 that it would be fixed. I didn't know that I would have been in charge of fixing it, but fix we must," Hon. Malone told residents.
Last December, Hon. Malone told BVI Platinum News that the fires are not deliberately set. The Minister said it pains him when it happens.
“We feel the pain, we know the pain and suffering of the folks in the vicinity and they can rest assured that we are doing everything as possible to lessen the likelihood of spontaneous combustion and fires,” Hon. Malone had stated.
There is an ongoing $404,000 contract which Government signed through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to have Woods UK Ltd conduct a feasibility study to develop a modern landfill that contributes to a responsible and circular management of waste in the BVI.
It will, among other things, provide recommendations needed to develop the most responsible and cost-effective means to dispose of landfill waste for the next 40 years. The Minister has called for a combined effort to look fully into the 3R Programme – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
He said if the territory can reduce the volume of waste going into the facility by 30, 40 or 50 %, then we don't to have to continuously upgrade the equipment necessary to treat waste.
Currently, there is only one incinerator and it is aged and from time to time breaks down. When this happens, garbage is dumped on the hillside and in some cases leads to combustion.
