Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Pockwood Pond fires causing persons ‘to come down with cancer’- Romney-Moses

Pockwood Pond fires causing persons ‘to come down with cancer’- Romney-Moses

The longstanding issues of garbage disposal and landfill fires at Pockwood Pond were highlighted during the First District’s Political Debate held at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Youth Centre in Carrot Bay last evening, April 18, 2023, with candidates stating the issue was amongst the top three national concerns they would address in the House of Assembly (HoA) once elected.

During a question and answer segment, a First District resident referred to these issues as major emergency health concerns for the common folk and decried the lack of action by elected officials.

Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) Candidate Sylvia C. Romney-Moses had earlier listed open burning at the incinerator among her top 3 concerns and priorities.

The recent upsurge in issues surrounding garbage disposal and landfill fires at Pockwood Pond was highlighted during the First District’s Political Debate, hosted at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Youth Centre in Carrot Bay last evening, April 18, 2023. From left: VIP Candidate Dr Karl Dawson, PVIM Candidate Sylvia C. Romney-Moses and Independent Candidate Chad C. George.



‘Cancer cases are on the rise’- Romney-Moses

Mrs Romney-Moses, who explained that she lives in the District, said the recent incident of open burning was one of the worst, noting that within her lifetime this was the third incident where there was an explosion at the incinerator.

“Certainly, the hillside was on fire. The whole of Carrot Bay, the whole of the western end was affected. Individuals are suffering with health challenges, cancer cases are on the rise and we are not talking about it. But certainly, where I sit within the BVI Cancer Society, we know that the folks on this side of the island have been negatively impacted by the incinerator.

“I plan to work with my PVIM government to ensure that the required funding and legislation to the incinerator, that it’s addressed once and for all,” she said.

All First District Candidates have said the open burning situation at Pockwood Pond will be a top priority for them if elected.



‘Health has to be at the top of the list’- Dr Karl Dawson

Additionally, Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Candidate Dr Karl Dawson noted that this is a matter of health, which should be viewed as a national concern.

He noted; however, that he is convinced these two issues have not been looked at as national health emergencies.

“We’ve looked at them as issues, things to be dealt with but we haven’t looked at them as national health emergencies, linking what’s happening there with our health currently as well as potentially…We know that we see smoke come over the hill, but we don’t know yet what is the impact on our health in the short- term as well as in the long- term…”

Shedding light on the health concerns, Mrs Romney-Moses said there is a direct link between cancer deaths related to the hazardous activities.

“The Pockwood Pond waste disposal facility is causing tremendous health challenges for our people. And while Dr Dawson is saying he doesn’t know what the effects might be…it is causing our people within the District to come down with cancer. If we had 30 people die within the last year or so, trust you me, about 25 of them died from cancer- various types of cancers that were developed because of the effects coming out of the incinerator,” she stressed.

A number of persons turned up to witness the First District’s Political Debate on April 18, 2023.



Recycling an option- Chad C. George

Meanwhile, Independent Candidate Carl C. George said once elected, he would be a ‘bulldog’ on the situation.

Mr George said once elected, he would move towards recycling so that less garbage would be sent to the incinerator.

“With regards to the sewage and the water, that is far too long…as I said with the ‘Greedy Bill’, we can’t find money to build back this plant that was destroyed but we can find money to give guys two hundred and something thousand dollars and fifty cents to put in their pocket,” he said.

A number of persons turned up to witness the First District’s Political Debate on April 18, 2023.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×