Fire burns at hillside above Pockwood Pond waste facility
A hillside fire has erupted up at the waste site in Pockwood Pond, Tortola.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen coming from the area Sunday morning, May 22.
It is not clear how the blaze stated but it has become a regular occurrence for these types of fires to flare up. It usually affects residents of West End and neighbouring communities.
Up to press time, BVI News did not see any public statement from the Department of Waste Management or its parent ministry about the fire.
Meanwhile, this latest incident follows the February fire that gutted the Pockwood Pond waste facility; rendering its incinerator inoperable.
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Gov’t don’t care!
Government doesn’t care about you, your family or this territory. Your health is of no concern to them.
If they did, the incinerator would have been fixed already. Drug monies would have been shifted to pay for a new one. Instead, the monies went to line the pockets of illegitimate religious people who claim to support us.
So we all suffer for their shortcomings
But good news! There will be more room at the landfill! So this fire is by design.
This burning of garbage is really a big issue for people in the First District. A lot of days it is difficult even to breathe. I am soo disappointed with both Governments. I voted for all NDP to get this problem fixed. Then I voted all VIP in hopes that they would be the ones to fix it. I figure if AF got in, as he lives in the First, he would look out for us, but no, he only looked out for himself and his friends’ pockets. Both Government don’t care about the people. They just care to get their hands on the Government’s purse. It is so sickening, while the people perish. All these politicians do is come in front of you with smooth talk and LIES, then when they get in the first three years is spent hoarding money for themselves, the last year is spent on a few project just to FOOL the people into voting them back in. SMDH
All who have entered politics for the money will perish at their own doings. These people are too greedy for money. And on top of that they mess so much with labour work permits, that the economy is in state of disarray.
We have a government? We have Ally Baba and the 40 thieves.
Rename the dump the “Fahie House.”
I thought for a moment that was a half built mansion in West End burning down.
But I guess that’s next week.
We deserve better. We should always remember this as a burning symbol of the neglect we have had to endure from the incompetent elected officials who have presided over our country for the prior generation. The dump should be renamed Fahie House in recognition of the mess he contributed to.
Great more toxic fumes to further poison us on the west
Nat Ali Baba and the 40 thieves now.
Marlon and the unity government gotta fix this mess now
You have more chance praying for Angels to appear.
This is not really news. It’s normal. The fire was much worst last Monday. The people should call on the government to confirm exactly what is planned to solve it – not these absurd statements about mobile incinerators. If there is no real plan right now, just admit it and ask the UK to help. No one here can claim expertise in this field. The UK has a waste management strategy that services 65 million people. Or we could engage another US outfit that doesn’t exist to make a scrubber and pay them first. None of what’s happened here stacks up. We just don’t see to care enough to demand better.
This was a ‘show fire’, NOTHING like the thick, greasy smoke that engulfed the people living at Western beaches and West end during nights last week.
It’s bizarre that there are no protests, no marches, no demonstration about this longstanding issue. Why don’t all those affected protest? What are they afraid of? Is it that they don’t care enough?
Make waste management a matter of national security and ask the UK to put it under their jurisdiction to solve. We need help with this. It has gone on for decades. There is a time to admit defeat – not pretend we know what to do or who to contract with. You only have to look at the scrubber situation and the incinerator explosion to know that following the same path is a dead end. What about a vision for leading the way not flogging a dead horse?
It,s easy,every weekend now.someone got the matches? Dont you think.
You need toput security and monitor who gong up there.simple
Stop talkng buls**t politique and fix the problem.
It,s been going on for YEARS
God’s punishment for electing inmate Fahie 6 consecutive times from 1999 to 2019!
No BVI govt has ever cared. This, more than anything, serves as a referendum on our less a$$ govt. Like @jah said, govt just dont care.
More than anything this is the saddest thing about the BVI. What good country burns their garbage and lets their citizens breath the smoke. Unbelievable!
A million dollars for an HOA lift that would benefit more if it was spent on a new incinerator.
Get serious about this major problem. We need a reliable incinerator with safeguards to ensure reliability.
Nah we don’t need a new incinerator. Im sick of the toxic fires period. We need a new plan not a new incinerator.
This should be #1 priority all those laws they past and not one concerning this toxic problem. If I recall correctly they gave out masks in the past to the residents. Really??
Nat Ali Baba and the 40 thieves now.
Have been spent on a new incinerator and a scrubber. It all disappeared into big houses built for politicians in the USA.
And still there are morons who support them.
Now is the time. Those that know how help us please! We will march to positive change! We will support you! It has to come from you who can organize. Help us. We will support.
Simply announce a date and time. Clear it with the Police Commissioner and Bob’s your Uncle. Make sure all the people in the West, especially, know. Put it on FB, do up flyers, etc. Ask a couple people to speak. And there you go. Why do you have to wait for someone else to do it?
Love your suggestion. People in West hold your government accountable, set up a meeting give a 21 days deadline for corrective action if No response get as many signatures as possible and take it to the governor,if there is no response with a time frame of ten working days. Go to the privy council. Sit and dialogue give more quick response, don’t parade yourself to get people angry. The time has come for quick dialogue, it’s the new way to ask for change.
What are other islands bigger and smaller than us using? Just go and take a look. Isn’t it that simple? I think so.
Just one more reason for the UK to take immediate control, this sums up the constant failure of local government and why they need replacing.
Government is boxing their selves in a corner, refusing to negotiate with Alkebulan Minds Recycling Inc a local cooperation willing to foot this problem free of cost to our government
What are they waiting for, why they not seeking a change for they territory
They burning all the proof
what are people doing themselves and companies? people still eating from styrofoam and plastic and throwing it out and not recycling and complaining about the fires. Companies bringing in stuff that can’t be recycled and selling food out of cheap styrofoam that is bad for you instead of reusable containers. yes blame government for part of it but come on people do something yourselves and demand more from companies. stop being apathetic
This is sickening. For years BVI people are being poisoned and all they can say is they order a new scrubber. All the trash plastic toxic waste burnt regularly to blow down on west end residents and visitors.
This is a serious public health issue. Lives are in government hands and this fire starting for YEARS can only be willful ignorance AKA negligence.
Some people are so anxious for UK take over that if they get constipated they see it a reason to call on UK to come and take over.
There is no fire break-out. Almost every night that fire is there on the hill. That on looks very small to some I have seen when I leave work at nights and going home. This is regular business as usual.
More cancer in West End
had a plan for a waste oenergy plant. Of course that got no where as the blaspheming traitor declined the cheapest loan on the planet in oreder that he could put the funds in his own pocket.
So can someone tell me why not even the comments, persons can like. Is this to make it appear that persons are not concerned about the issue?