The concerns of Layou residents regarding emissions from an Asphalt Plant in their community will be discussed by government at a meeting this morning (Monday).
On Friday, residents threatened to protest against what they say has been three years of heavy fumes generated by the plant operated by Jack Ghaddakan.
However, Parliamentary Representative for the area, Kelver Darroux, has given Layou residents the assurance that their concerns will be addressed.
“The issues being raised are legitimate regarding the fumes from the Asphalt Plant. The Asphalt Plant is in use for the completion of Lot two of the Airport Road. That road has been delayed and therefore the initial agreement had to be extended,” he explained.
Darroux said the relevant government authorities are meeting to discuss the matter.
“From what I have gathered, there may be some defects with the plant which needs to be addressed. When the relevant authorities undertake their investigations, we will proceed to the next step,” he added.
The MP says his primary concern is the health of his people.
“There is no politics involved in this. As a government, we have to look into the concerns of residents and see how best we can address the issues. We have to work in the best interest to ensure that we can come up with the best solution for everybody,” he explained.
Darroux also confirmed that an Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted.
“The planning division outlined several recommendations that had to be implemented by the owner of the Plant. The owner has to abide by the regulations. We have to go in there to ensure that the recommendations were met,” he said.
He said a monitoring committee was also formed which comprised of members of the Layou area.
The road must be completed whether it s next year or this year and so the plant must be kept in operation. Beside that the man has already dished out a lot of money t have his plant in operation and Layou people should know that the swo money during election campaign must come from somewhere and the lawyer not to far away must collect for the prince of corruption.
can this be moved to a less populated area, we have lots of open place in Dominica. please help the poeple of Layou
what are dominicans afraid of?the police? i cant understand why people cant do something to protect themselves. All around the world people are standing up to governments why cant we do something?
Cancer-causing fumes from the asphalt Plant is taking its toll on the health of an entire village. Many Dominicans do not love their neighbours as themselves, so they just stand there and allow the villagers of Layou to continue inhaling toxic fumes.
I have not heard any priest, pastor, those in authority, not the Minister of the Environment, giving any support to the people in their legit, genuine fight against the operations of the big businessman. The men of cloth hypocritically trying to save souls for heaven, but worry not about the congregation living now in Layou.
The residents are being made to suffer from those toxic fumes. What kind of Govt. does such disrespectful, inhumane things to its own people? Layou villagers talk, no one listened to their plight. Protest to no avail. What a nation we’ve become.
The poor people of Layou have been fooled again and again. They have no power to stop that madness. How could any right-thinking Govt, with a medical Dr. as its Minister of Environment, treat an entire village with so much disrespect? The people are crying. They need help. They need someone, their priest, pastors, Parl. Rep., their Govt., to have some feeling for the sufferers. The villagers are getting more and more sick. You hear them talk glibly about non-communicable diseases, but will not address the villagers concerns
What kind of Govt. allows cancer-causing toxic fumes from that asphalt Plant to deteriorate the health of vill;agers? What development is that? Development for whom? Layou people? It is the villagers of Layou who are speaking about their health problems, who will be the villains. They will be condemned as against development. Not one priest, pastor has given support to the Layou villagers. Forget about Parl. Rep. What should come first, the health of the residents or the millions being made by the Big foreign Businessman? What Govt. treats its people in that way? The people are slowly getting more and more sick, exposed to those poisoinous fumes.
I am, sure if the villagers rise up again to prevent further inhaling of toxic fumes from the plant, protection would be swiftly forthcoming for the Big Man and his asphalt plant, not the poor people of Layou. but Layou villagers do have the power to force Govt. to listen to them. Their concerns are legit and genuine. Love thy neighbour as thyself, nuh.
“Those who have an adult’s recollection and understanding of the world which preceded World War I look back upon it with a great nostalgia. There was a sense of security then which has never since existed.
Progress was generally taken for granted. …We had a prolonged period in which decade after decade had
seen increasing political freedom, the steady lifting of the standard of life for the masses of men. …It was an era of good faith. Men believed in promises. Men believed in the promises of governments.” Not TODAY!
so i wonder what the layou people gonna do… are you all going to drink the kool aid… i read a post on another story, where one said, to move the hydrothermal plant to soufriere. WHAT??? lol… is now the peeps of soufriere would rise, cause if it aint good for the valley, what would make it good for soufriere… anyway is a good thing i don’t live there anymore, but i feel for my relatives who do…
As soon as the Melville Hall road project is completed the plant will be dismantled. However in the meantime every thing possible must be done the lessen the fumes when the plant is in use.
Really?? So bacially suck it up until the airport project is done? I am a card carrying member of the DLP but I am a strong enough to call wrong wrong. You and I both know that this issue is falling on deaf ears. It’s been 3 years and the health and well-being of the Layou residents have not been and still is not a priority. Hon. Darroux’s remarked are scripted and void of substance. I think it is a shame on this administration to put a project before people.
Jude u not living in layou, so easy for you today where is your humanity?
Jude, with an asphalt plant fumes are inevitable. Even if they are harmless they are unpleasant and noxious. That is why such a plant should never be located near a centre of population, especially upwind from it. Ask the people of Stockfarm and the worker at the port, who used to suffer when the Public Works plant was operational in their vicinity.
This is not politics but life and death but unfortunately the undertable bribes were more valuable to the politicians than the health of the people.
Where are the religious people of Dominica and Canada. Lizavier4jesus, truth and justice where is your conscience.
Just an observation – don’t look up at the beautiful white clouds just focus above the vehicles and notice the pollution , the black soot just above the vehicle. Peeps that is hydrocarbons that were not completely burnt- directly from the asphalt plant. My god this is a direct assault on the people in the area. Wow !!!!!! Cannot believe the government did that to its people – this is no different from what Asad ,Kadafi or Sadam did to it’s people.
A tad dramatic don’t you think .
Yes it was but I will never put party over my country and people. Do you? Cause you continue to stand in defense of corrupt politicians.
Hans the people of layou or a large majority voted for these people and will co tinue to do so. I see there is no mention of the quarry and the dust and fumes eminating from from there.I understand the concerns of the people of layou not the hypocrisy.
I never said I supported anyone -what I said was -“a tad dramatic don’t you think.”
Why Dominica and Dominicans are always backward In Thinking, this Asphalt Plant did not fall out of The SKY at 5am someday last week.
Issue is Citizens are too “IGNORANT” to not see Their Health will surely be affected in the long run..
But again is Dominica so folks should not be Surprised..they talk way too much in Dominica and Have NO Progressive Actions to gain Results.
Its the same asphalt you drive on, isn’t it?
Correction – clue
“Defects with the plant?” Sounds like a simple solution to the environmental problem then…shut down the plant until the defects are corrected.
Peeping Tom, I endorse your recommendation 100%.
Why should they shut down the plant? The people have shown through their unending tolerance and apathy, that they are willing to sacrifice their health in exchange for a few ‘sweet” words and empty promises, of the political overlords.
This is just more horse piss! Before the construction of the plant the government was told by the residents of their disapproval of same. The govt. assured the residents that their concerns would be considered; how? by doing EXACTLY what residents did not want:construction of the plant. Now the residents complain again THREE YEARS LATER and the govt. now says it is concerned with the health of the people, there is no politics involved, a committee will be NOW set up to MONITOR proceedings, etc. etc.
The truth of the matter is that either this govt does what it wants, irrespective of the peoples’ wishes, or the people like the govt to do things against their wishes. In any case, somebody playing smart with “chupidness”. Ah lie?
Oh, no Nkrumah. They did more. In case you’ve forgotten they sent the SS Unit with assault rifles to protect the plant.
PS. What an unfortunate name S.S. Unit (..Hitler had them too) and KKK for a musical band, or maybe they don’t care. Are our people ignorant of international opinion? Time to call in “Bonny & Clyde” for some P.R. work?
“given Layou residents the assurance that their (concerns) will be addressed.” ya’ll better not hold your breath, but block ur nose when the fumes lingering
“Defects with the plant”! This is exactly what was not supposed to happen. Nonetheless, the plant was fired up- and run regardless. We neither have the local expertise for 24/7 monitoring, nor the enforcement of regulations avaialble locally and unless this is put into place the same will happen again, not only with the Layou plant but the Govt’s own plant at Anse Cola.
Tehee sorry had to laugh -local expertise for 24/7 monitoring
Exactly Anonymous. We want to sit in the front row for 10 cents! (oh, and don’t forget dark galsses are compulsory).
every things comes at a cost
Meaning what exactly? Quantify this and state its cost in lives and health then ask yourself if it’s worth it. I guess there may be many willing to lose their lives and health for the “extra” power this might produce. Why not just do the project right in the first place?
In that case put the plant in Beau Bois.