Repairing damaged incinerator is ‘like pulling teeth’
Repairs to the damaged Pockwood Pond incinerator have been described as “like pulling teeth” by Health Minister Vincent Wheatley, who recently acknowledged long-standing challenges in addressing waste management in the BVI.
Despite these struggles, he assured residents that progress was being made. “We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Wheatley said in the House of Assembly.
“We’re trying our utmost best to get the incinerator up and working.” The incinerator, which has been out of operation since a catastrophic fire in 2021, is undergoing extensive repairs, with the final parts expected to arrive soon. Wheatley hoped the facility would resume operations “sooner rather than later.”
He thanked the Department of Waste Management, led by Marcus Solomon, and the contractors for their efforts in mitigating the situation’s impact.
“There hasn’t been a single fire at Pockwood Pond for 2024. I must thank Mr Solomon and his team and all the contractors who are abiding by the rules to ensure that the people in the West are really relieved,” he said.
Wheatley emphasised the importance of continuing to work toward a functional waste management system, saying, “We are supposed to incinerate, and that’s what we’re going to do.” However, he noted that repairs to the current facility are only a temporary solution and that a long-term strategy, including the acquisition of a new incinerator, is in the works. Further details reveal that the existing incinerator, even when repaired, will struggle to meet the territory’s waste management demands, which currently exceed 160 tonnes of waste per day.
The government has initiated plans to replace the facility with a more efficient system and to explore waste-to-energy solutions that could contribute to the national grid. Wheatley’s remarks come as the government addresses waste management challenges across the BVI. Measures include budget allocations for landfill sites and initiatives advocating recycling and environmental sustainability.
Residents are encouraged to support these efforts by participating in recycling programmes and adopting responsible waste disposal practices.
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Independence them say
In 2025 still open burning
You are dedicated and work hard you respond to issues and are sincere about you love and care of this territory but please get yourself a communications manager .In this new world people dont understand and cannot decipher nunance and many of these haters will take you words and twist them . We saw that in the VG clinic debacle. The VG people have your back but these other haters will willfully misconstrue your every statement.And same for the publication they are not asking for interviews in your best interest. They have an agenda,You have accomplished many thing but you are not a braggart, But new times call for new strategy.
IF THAT IS THE CASE , THEN WE DENTISTS HERE , SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM , , THE ONE BEFORE YOU MADE PROMISES THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM , BUT HE NEVER MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT TEETH , HE SAID ” SCRUBBER ” SO MAYBE HE HAD MEANT ( TOOTHBRUSH & AND DENTAL FLOSS / CSC GOT IT RIGHT – WE GOT FRIGGED , ONCE AGAIN
Like pulling teeth? Since none of you incompetent people can’t figure it out then hire an outside professional agency that have knowledge as to how to correct and fix the problem.
Where’s the money? I know a quick google search will show several ocassions when cheques were written to overseas companies for parts and consultation and nothing was ever delivered.
A new fit for purpose incinerator should have been commissioned over 10 years ago. Our people are just f**king incompetent and always have an excuse!
At least if you have a bad teeth, the dentist will correct the problem . I am so sick of the incompetence with you slow non thinking scatter brains people. Damn Sir, you are slow and incompetent for real. Like pulling teeth? YOWWWWWWW!
the latest waste management plan was to dump the tons of daily waste on ugly land fills; e.g. Havers shoreline on Tortola, then reward the new land ‘owners’ by leasing their ugly land fill.
Me thinks he’s just predicting the next time the staff manage to burn it down again .
Like some beach and or beaches of past admins, the money keep going swimming.?
So let me understand. We going to continue spending money fixing something that is now old and maybe obsolete or will we invest in a new one and fix the garbage woes? That sponsorship money dem give to Steve coulda help buy a new one.