Dust cloud in Layou causes concern

The dust cloud reportedly rising from the Layou Asphalt Plant

One of the founding members of the Waitukubuli Ecological Foundation, Tyani Behanzin, has expressed grave concern over a dust cloud reportedly triggered every morning by the Layou Asphalt Plant.

According to him this could put the health of Layou residents and workers at the plant at risk.

“That dust cloud carries on most of the day and it is very visible. You see the work men and villagers walking back and forth into it without any protective mask,” he said.

This is something Behanzin said should be looked into by the environmental health department.

“They should have some advisory to the people in the area. That dust cloud has been very thick over the past couple of days. It will be a health problem if it is not addressed. We don’t know what chemicals are in there and what is being inhaled and what is the long term or short term effects,” Behanzin explained.

Behanzin is also concerned about what has been described as a “serious case of soil erosion” in several communities around the island, a result of poor road management.

“The cutting of the grass away from the road has taken a new turn. There is some serious deforestation going on there.  They are cutting down the trees, damaging the roots by removing the foliage; you are making it far more dangerous for users of the road,” he explained.

He said it is even more worrying in the community of Trafalgar, where road cleaners are actually cutting flowers.

Behanzin is calling on those in authority to examine the matter.

Flowers cut by road cleaning crews in Trafalgar.

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29 Comments

  1. Plain n Simple
    October 20, 2012

    How noble Mr. Behanzin, but I know you know that it is de as-phalt – the lawyers who caused the case to be thrown out of court. The one that is a member of your same organisation. You people continue to amaze me with your fake ideals backed by a tonne of hot air!!

  2. stupes!!!
    October 16, 2012

    cut down those trees thats close to the road is a problem,let them bushay d road is a proble.theres no making you people happy is there?instead of complaining complaining people please offer some solutions or suggestions.like suggest to the people planting the flowers not to plant the flowers too close to the road.and to the people cutting the trees close to the road,clean up the debris after cutting the trees.geeeeeezzzzzeeeee man!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. santa
    October 16, 2012

    smh

  4. mie
    October 16, 2012

    There’s always two sides to every story.

  5. thinker
    October 16, 2012

    Environmental Agency in Dominica?If it was operational this article would not be printed.
    It just show the despotic state of affair in DA.
    Those at the helm have ‘lassi’ in their eyes. They
    need Penicillin eye ointment to clear their eyes

  6. October 15, 2012

    HEY BASTARDS STOP CUTTING DOWN THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE

  7. Who cares?
    October 15, 2012

    Who cares? Although the people of Layou demonstrated, blocked roads, advocated against the building of that asphalt plant close to their village, yet it was Planning Division and Govt. who gave the big French business man permission to build.

    Our own Dominican people have allowed that to happen to their fellow Dominicans. Even though the health of the people get worse due to the toxic fumes coming from the asphalt plant, authorities do not care two hoots.

    It seems, WEF, Wiltshire, Tiyani and the other patriotic Dominicans, who are helping the Layou people in their plight, are the devils, not those who are causing the Layou people to be sick or later down the road, to be killed from constant exhaling of poisonous fumes from the asphalt plant.

    What is left for the Layou people to do? What action could they take to prevent their health from getting worse? Will they be arrested for demonstrating or showing concerns about their own health? For sure, they do not have the money to cure themselves from those cancer-causing pollutants.

    Do the people of Layou belong to any congregation of “Christians?” Who is willing, in the eyes of God, to come to the rescue of those suffering Layou people?

    • layou
      October 17, 2012

      layou people have to take what they get because that is what they wanted.
      they were told that this is there for 2 years can some body tell me how long its been

  8. tommy
    October 15, 2012

    Is de Assphault.
    That concern was already expressed in song during this years carnival season.(Mighty Hunter)
    Nobody took any notice then so will anyone take any notice now.

  9. En Ba La
    October 15, 2012

    This government is not operating in the people’s interest. This clearly shows this place is operating without any form of concern from the government.

    The owners of this place should know their responsibility and should be held accountable.

    Were they handed a blank check where the environment and operation is concerned?

    This government thrives on the people’s ignorance. If everyone was asleep I do not want to imagine what this country would have been like.

    Thanks sir for watching along with Lennox Linton and others.

  10. 123
    October 15, 2012

    Can anyone remember what was like on the port a few years ago, with the dust that was coming from the Public Works asphalt plant? To sum it up, it was among other things terrible, miserable, torture, and sickening. Hope Layou residents don’t have to go through the same thing we went through.

  11. WAITUKUBULI!
    October 15, 2012

    :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: :?:When people fail to listen and learn but rather pay attention to partisan politics and vote on the basis of people they choose to like rather than governance issues they suffer the consequence.I don’t understand how these people of Layou could allow themselves to be fooled by people with no experience and knowledge of what it is to lead and govern a country.It’s time to rise up and revolt against this cruel,corrupt and illegitimate government lead by an illegal rogue!

  12. tie toe
    October 15, 2012

    its the as-phalt

  13. ?????????????
    October 15, 2012

    Hello yes I do agree about the grass on the roadside. For example I wish to refer to the beautiful flowers (pink) on the road side goign up to Bellevus Chopin. This foliage looks so beautiful. It is a pity that these cannot grow in some of the villages as they need a cool shady area to grow. Isn”t this foliage pretty? I have seen the visitors – Tourist taking pictures of those and even standing in the flowers to take pictures in the beautiful pink flowers. But alas, I have seen them actually using a scraper or perhaps a backhoe to remove the plants from the roots. I asked a villager why would they cut off the beautiful “busy Lizzie” and he said that they are very untidy. This I don’t believe but that is his take on it. The flowers on the roadside to Bellevue Chopin are one of the most beautiful plants and scenery I have seen.

    I know that not everyone will agree with me.

    • Holywood
      October 15, 2012

      I agree. Dominicans take beauty for granted. How can one destroy such beauty and refer to these flowers as untidy? That is an area I always admire. I once took some of these plants to put in my yard.

  14. my my my
    October 15, 2012

    dust cioud is cosmicdust small particles floating in space. the definition of dost cloud is a cloud of dust suspende in the air.and cutting of grass along the road it is not deforestation.

  15. Anonymous
    October 15, 2012

    Great observation! If you can notice this, why isn’t the appropriate Government Agency seeing this also? I agree with one of the comments, Mr. Behanzin have demonstrated in more that one area that he is capable of handling the top office. I am especially supportive of him in the area of crime. You got my vote!

  16. my my my
    October 15, 2012

    Dust cloud is cosmicdust small particles floating in space. the definition of dustcioud is acloud of dust susoende in the air.and cutting of grass by the road is not deforestation.

  17. T mama
    October 15, 2012

    Persons should be Very Concerned about this, after 911 in New York many many persons got respiratory illnesses, any form of smoke or dust is bad to inhale…persons in Layou check yourselves….BE CONCRENED….Good work Tiyani…

  18. Dave Thomas
    October 15, 2012

    Nearly as dangerous as the smoke from garbage fires that are burning plastics, styrofoam, used oil containers and tires!

  19. Anonymous
    October 15, 2012

    Dear Sir

    DUST CLOUD:
    I unable to speak about the dust cloud in Layou since I am unaware of its origin and the reason. However, I agree with you that the appropriate Government department should monitor and take the appropriate action. One concern – did you lodge a complaint to the Government department (as a concerned citizen) before you wrote this piece was published?

    Cutting flowers on the road side.

    I once resided in Laudat and one of my concerns when the persons assigned to keep the shrubs and foliage on the side of the road to a minimum, was that they cut the twigs and clean the side of the road clean to the soil. I agree with you sir that this method caused more erosion and slides. It is clear that those workers have not been coached about erosion and how to avoid erosion.

    Sufficient grass should be kept on the soil and the twigs branched to avoid being on the road. Importantly, the drains should receive much more attention not only from Government, but as well from persons who have property next to the road.

  20. ..................
    October 15, 2012

    Dear Behanzin

    Have you considered forming your own political party? I think you would be a great political leader like your father. There are many people like myself with no political affiliation because we are not followere of any of the political parties which are here now. We need options which are not associated with any of the existing political parties.

    We need an option and I see you as a good option to what exists.

    Thanks for pointing out those areas of concern to powers that be.

    • The Engineer
      October 15, 2012

      Agreed. I would support this man.

    • truthfully
      October 15, 2012

      I 100% agree with this comment. This man is passionate about Dominica and just what we need to get moving in the right direction.
      With the parties today,I can never vote for either again.

    • Hmmmm....
      October 15, 2012

      I would also support him!

    • huh?
      October 15, 2012

      i would support him 100%

  21. Tiger
    October 15, 2012

    Unfortunately, since you are the messenger, your pleas will fall on deaf ears.

    • Voice From The North
      October 15, 2012

      It is very sad that for a small country like ours people respond not according to the substance in what you say but because of whom you are.
      Shouldn’t the substantive argument in the message be the critical factor in meriting our response to situations? From the inception of that project several persons have registered their concern for the health of the residents of Layou but political expediency have taken precedence over the health and environmental concerns of the Layou residents.
      If we were to subject project developments in Dominica to entities like EPA or OSHA, every single one of them would fail. Very little if any of our project developments are subjected to Environmental Impacts Assessments. These should form the basis for determining whether or not a project, more so one of an industrial nature can be initiated.

      • Tiger
        October 15, 2012

        @VFTM
        Don’t hold your breath my bredda. Anything goes in places like Dominica. We call ourselves the Nature Island, but these are just buzzwords. Look at the state of the rivers.

        I remember as a boy we used to be able to dive from bridges into the river. Try that today. In most of the rivers if you dove, you would break your neck. Nuff said.

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