Penn tours Bermuda to understand its waste treatment system
As the government tries to confront its longstanding waste management issues, Minister for Health and Social Development Marlon Penn, along with a team from the ministry, is visiting Bermuda to look at the country’s waste treatment facilities.
The delegation — which includes the Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Petrona Davies; and Senior Project Manager of the Recovery & Development Agency (RDA), Albert Gillings — is on a three-day visit to learn about Bermuda’s waste disposal system.
The three-member delegation’s focus will centre on Bermuda’s waste management process including the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility in Devonshire, the Marsh Folly Depot, and the Airport Facility.
A press statement by the Bermuda government indicated that Bermuda remains a regional leader in waste management because of its decision in the 1980s to transition from a landfill disposal system to the construction and use of an incinerator which is used primarily to decrease the size of combustible waste by up to 90% within the island’s waste management plan.
The BVI also utilises an incinerator to reduce the size of combustible waste, but it has faced several and significant troubles over the last few years. The Pockwood Pond incinerator has been offline since February 14 after a fire destroyed the main control panel and electrical system.
Since then, the government has issued several deadlines for fixing the issue, but none has been followed through. Back in May in the House of Assembly, Penn said the government is in the process of procuring replacement parts from a Virginia-based equipment manufacturer, Consutech Systems LLC.
The ministry said the company was already contracted to supply a replacement quench tank and ash conveyor, a heat exchanger, and three transfer rams; all of which would be required to bring the incinerator back online. Since then, no further updates to the situation were given.
Meanwhile, in addition to meeting with Bermuda’s Chief Engineer for the Ministry of Public Works, the BVI team paid a courtesy visit to the Premier, David Burt.
The BVI delegation’s schedule in Bermuda also includes a tour of the King Edward Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.
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He should’ve taken along field workers who are hands on
Bermuda’s incinerator was a enormous white elephant was designed at great cost to power electricity generation, not a single watt of power has ever been produced it is badly maintained and too small ! On the other hand it’s a lovely island to visit for a JOLLY. The Wellness (not a word as far as I’m concerned) Institute is a joke , the Hospital a massive cost to the tax payer, cash cow for DR Brown and friends in government , the island sits on top of a dormant volcano and the Government at the edge of a fiscal cliff 3-5 billion in debt through government greed , stupidity and arrogance etc . What are we doing using this beautiful nightmare as an example of good governance.
Why dont they go and talk to the person in the BVI that already has studied all the systems and knows what she is talkibg about?? Julie Schwartz?? Instead if using people who base their comoanies off using kids to sort waste.
Waste of money smurf is not ready he weak
Go to people who is doing it successfully and see if it can be done on a smaller/appropriate scale.
Al these guys do is travel on our dime and take photos
He promised Fraser that the incinerator in pockwood pond will be up and running by january
I’ve told the Hon Penn already to check out the system they use in St Barth – (I can link him with team there) There incinerator is smokeless and makes water at the same time. But he ain’t studying me… maybe he will read this – ha 😉
So knowing how these guys operate this is his ticket so that people will think he can run the country. So I guess this means committing the country all kinds of not well thought out schemes. Please get the appropriate technical people involved. I don’t see how this trip even makes sense. Shouldn’t the management of solid waste be there since they would know the most about the issues we are having. These guys are so clueless, it’s not even funny, just sad
Having at least one working incinerator would be helpful (no charge for my consultancy)
There’s a lot to learn from Bermuda: A very efficient public transport system and no traffic jams. House occupancy based on water catchment, reducing need/costs for municipal infrastructure. Expat workers can’t bring their families and have to leave in 7 years.
Waste to Energy Plants are not a solution in the BVIs. We don’t generate enough waste of the right kind to make it financially viable, not to mention, preventive maintenance (or even just maintenance) are not common practices. Hence problems at Pockwood. Incineration only just reduces the volume of waste at the cost of environmental pollution, no value for money there.
Perhaps it is to learn what NOT TO DO. It is wise to learn from other people’s mistakes ?
Just a trip to rack up miles we need an election now!
St Maarten is also doing Waste to Energy I toured the plant years ago.