ASPHALT PLANT: “It’s not as if government is sitting and doing nothing” – Skelton
BVI News Staff - Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton
The asphalt plant at Fish Bay, Tortola is reportedly affecting residents in the area and government has been asked to do something about the situation.
During the House of Assembly sitting on July 26, Opposition member and Second District Representative J. Alvin Christopher announced that concerns over the plant were presented to him.
“I receive a couple of complaints and I can speak on this because this has been a problem for many years … The production of asphalt in the Fish Bay area. Many years ago when I was the minister of that department I received many complaints about the health problems as it pertains to that plant that we have over there and I am still many years later receiving complaints about that plant,” he said.
“The present location of the plant Madame Speaker, and the present condition of the plant without having the proper scrubbers and filters to prevent the asphalt flare from flying, has been a health hazard for many years. Residents within the vicinity have made several requests and the Health Department has looked into the matter and have made requests about either correcting the condition of the plant or having it removed from the location because of the health hazards that it pose,” Christopher noted.
He added: “We are still hearing those complaints today and so far we haven’t don’t anything to correct to correct those flaws. The evidence is clear in many areas. Where the wind drives the flare from the plant into people’s houses and they can actually show proof and evidence of this condition. It is something that we should not take lightly. The location of that plant, the natural flow of the trade winds, is affecting a lot of persons and we are either going to invest to make it safe or we need to find a different location. That was a decision that was taken some years ago but to date it hasn’t come to pass. I am just saying in the essence of the right to protect our people we should do something.”
Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie Skelton said that at some point he had also complained about the situation but nothing was done.
“The member for the Second (district) spoke about the asphalt plant at Fish Bay. I spent four years out of this House, sent letters and pictures to the head of Public Works and to the minister of Communications and Works. Madame Speaker, I sent a letter to the minister for Communications and Works, the premier about the situation with that asphalt plant. I asked them to close it down, they won’t close it down.
“The member for the Second was part of this House and he could have also assisted me in getting that done but it was not done. Now we are doing something about it. We have allocated money in the budget to correct this situation. So it is not as if this government is sitting here and doing nothing, we are doing something about these situations. We are not playing games,” Skelton said.
However, former Minister for Communications and Works Julian Fraser rose, following those comments, on a point of information. He said if the member sent a letter to the minister of Communications and Works, he sent it to the wrong place because the minister didn’t receive any letter from him.
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22 Comments
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This property belongs to the maduros.Can the skelton who is commenting here tell me how and when they aquired this property.
It is pointless to argue about plant ownership, operation, residential construction in proximity to the plant, land ownership……etc. The point it is a real problem that requires a real solution.
For heaven’s sake, the concern is about the health and safety of residents of Fish Bay, as well as other areas of the territory. Pollution does not stop at either political or village boundaries.
One of the responsibilities of government is to protect the health and safety of the population. The technology used in the plant is probably obsolete. Consequently, its emission may be posing a health risk for some citizens. Unfortunately, like asbestos, the effects may not be fully felt perhaps for decades.
Undoutedly, government has to walk a tight rope to fix this problem; it is a high wire act. Assuming that the plant will remain at its current location, the government has to strike a balance between the health and safety of residents and the safe operation of the plant. So what is the fix?
As noted there is no easy fix. It is a situation of individual property rights vs the public good. There is little administrative solutions to this problem; the solution is primarily a technical one. Here are few suggested solutions that are not in priority order:
***locate the plant to a strictly industrial area. This will be challenging
***Re-engineer the current plant with emission controls that meet international standards. But probably an NPV (net present value) analysis will show replacing as the preferred option
***Construct a new, state-of -the-art plant with emissions controls that protect residents health
***Establish minimum emission standards and test emissions to ensure that the plant is meeting the regulatory requirements. Heavy fines can be enacted for deliberately failing to meet standards
***Place residents who have been residing in the vicinity on an annual health monitoring ptogramme
The solution to this problem is through effective engineering, employing current, state-of-the-art technology, effective operator training, effective plant operation and maintenance, attainable emission standards, strict emission monitoring, strong public education and outreach…..etc. It has to center around education, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement.
I actually think anyone who lives down wind of these types of plants can be affected. The wind does not exactly stop at Fish Bay you know….
this was the maduros land…they were outspent/outsmarted in court
I have inspected the site and I am satisfied that the site will be OK for the new plant which the family intends to install later this year as it will have all the necessary filters and scrubbers unlike the Government plant.
Where wood you put it that it woodn’t bother someone? Ginger island
I agree with Ronnie on this one. The question is, if Mark doesn’t hurry up and move that plant soon, where they expect his company to put theirs when it arrives later this year.
If we would read we would notice that the plant is owned by the GOVERNMENT; why is there so much hatred towards the Skelton Family, the Quarry and the Plant I am sure was there before all those homes were built; as far as I am concerned, the area should have been zoned an industrial area. Let us stop hating and let us learn something from that family about working together and accomplishing something for future generations. I myself is looking at to learn something from them.
That particular area at Fish Bay is “zoned” as an industrial area by Government, same for Pockwood Pond where the other quarry is.
Princessa,
Finally, some common sense on here. They build their house next to a Quarry, then start complaining. It should have been zoned. But around here, we can never plan properly. And then once a family is successful, we hating on them.
Here is my question. Madame Speaker who owns the said plant
The Government owns it!
once that family benefitting from that plant being there, nothing will be done, trust me
For your concern Hon Ronnie is speaking the facts I have personally delivered the letter of request to have the plant be removed to the Ministry Of Communication. So shut your trap and stop being evil against the skelton family.They will be okay without that plant.
Actually smart azz, we wanted that asphalt plant off our property for a number of years now. It is outdated and not to mention the health hazards it produces. The carcinogens that are released in the atmosphere from that plant, should make every resident demand its immediate closure. There is no amount of money that Government can pay us that would warrant us selling our souls to keep it there. We want it gone, and the family will ensure that its gone!! Talk that now!!
of course government is sitting and doing nothing…tell us what you’re doing then
The location of SOL chemical plant at fish bay proxcimity to homes the exposure of residents to the gas fumes and noise from the plant is also very hazardous and disturbing.
Should have thought about that when you built your home facing Fish Bay.
The rock quarry is the source of heavy flooding in the area whenever there is a unusual downpour. This is something that we have complained about for years. No response from the then Finance Minister..
You want the Finance Minister? Dr. Smith? To answer that question? LOL ignorance is bliss. The source of the heavy flooding is the gut that runs from Long Trench dummy!
We are also having a problem with the dust from the rock quarry. Can Mr Skeleton do something about that..
Mr Ellis Skelton was the only person that has been occupying that area for a number of years, it was known as an industrial area. Sad that one has choose there to build their dwelling house. Hon Ronnie Born and meet that plant and the gas pumps and tanks there so do the maths and stop looking for things to talk about. about the flooding, get public work to explain it for you. Let me do it. There is a gut that runs from long trench into the quarry area if the gut is blocked that is what causes the flooding.what do you want Hon Ronnine Skelton to do drink the water and stop the flood. You all need to get the facts instead of air your mouth.
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