Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025

Refrain from polluting ponds — Natural Resources Minister

Refrain from polluting ponds — Natural Resources Minister

As the territory gets ready to improve its water testing capabilities, Minister of Natural Resources Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull is urging residents to refrain from polluting ponds which are vital natural features within the territory.
The territory has faced issues with ponds and beaches being contaminated by litter, effluence, sediments and other pollutants in the past, and in a few instances, have resulted in a discovery of high levels of bad bacteria in these bodies of water. 

Minister Turnbull said people should remember that ponds connect to the sea and eventually carry the pollutants to those waters that the BVI uses for economic purposes.

“The filling of our ponds, I have said it — whether friends, family or foe — the filling of our ponds is something that needs to stop because God put them there for a specific reason. And if we continue to destroy and fill our ponds, fill them with litter then it flows over into our ocean. And if you don’t have a product to be able to market to the people; if we don’t preserve this product — from the ponds to the beaches… we have to ensure that we are doing all of that we need to do,” Turnbull stated.

$900K grant to improve water testing

He was speaking at a recent press conference held to announce that the government received approximately $933,189 from the European Union (EU) to improve the territory’s water quality testing capabilities.

The minister said the funds will also help his ministry to continue doing vital work to educate groups like students and businesses about the importance of protecting coastal waters which also provide potable water that residents use at home.

“Without your environment, without your natural resources, you cannot build a building … and you cannot have healthy and clean water,” said Turnbull.

He added that the grant will help the ministry to procure much-needed equipment to enhance the water quality monitoring programme. This equipment will include a new water vessel and other hardware and software needed to conduct water testing.

He said the grant has come at the perfect time as equipment is needed to monitor the waters, especially now that the COVID-pandemic measures have been relaxed and people are moving freely.

“So we are now more positioned to do more testing in other areas that persons are frequenting, especially after being locked down for about 24 months. A lot of persons now are enjoying the ocean spaces, enjoying the beaches and we have to ensure as there are more populated areas, that the quality throughout the BVI remains first-class and that we don’t have a problem. And if there is a problem, the equipment that we have will be able to address it,” Turnbull explained.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
×