Hon Vanterpool embarrassed over tourist seeing 'garbage smoke' on VG
Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has said he was recently embarrassed over the unsightly burning of garbage on the Sister Island of Virgin Gorda.
Speaking during the debates on the National Sustainable Development plan at the continuation of the Eighth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola on February 2, 2023, Hon Vanterpool said that on a recent trip with some visitors, he had to deny that burning of garbage was happening on Virgin Gorda.
According to the legislator, after a great day of sightseeing on a boat in various parts of the VI, the visitors arrived at Beef Island where smoke was seen coming from Virgin Gorda.
“When I reached Beef Island, and I got off, the tourist who I was
with, he said, Honourable Member, that’s something happening over there
on Virgin Gorda?”
Virgin Islands legislator Hon Mark H.
Vanterpool (R4) has complained that burning of garbage still continues
in the Virgin Islands, leading to him having to lie to a tourist over
unsightly burning on the Sister Island of Virgin Gorda recently.
Tourist thought there was a fire on VG - Hon Vanterpool
“He thought it was a big fire. I told him maybe, but I know what it was… we are burning the garbage in Virgin Gorda and the smoke going up in the air. I couldn’t let him see it too long,” Hon Vanterpool added.
Meanwhile, the legislator called for the VI to pay more attention to its islands, cays, and rocks and to be proud and sustain the environment, as highlighted in the National Sustainable Development Plan.
Senior legislator Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has referred to similar burning of garbage at Pockwood Pond on Tortola as a nuisance and health hazard.
