Officials of the Dominica Solid Waste Corporation say they have beefed up security measures at the sanitary landfill in Fond Cole to avoid the re-occurrence of what transpired recently.
Authorities say security was breached at the facility and codfish deemed unfit for human consumption was removed and sold.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday Bristol Lawrence, General Manager Dominica Solid Waste Corporation, expressed “regret” at the incident but showered praises on the police and the media for the way they handled the matter.
“We want to thank the police, media and the general public for the way they all dealt with the matter. It has helped the corporation to get some of the condemned goods. We are taking that matter seriously and are asking the public to refrain from purchasing any condemned goods,” Lawrence said.
Marcus Francis, manager of the landfill, who supervised the disposal of the condemned codfish explained that some of it has been retrieved. “Some of the goods have been retrieved and arrests have been made in the matter. Landfill management has taken some more steps to avoid a re-occurrence of this matter. We have excavated an area adjoining the bypass road near the landfill,” Francis stated.
According to Francis, the strengthening of the fence on the western end of the landfill to avoid scavenging is part of the security measures. He said the public relations arm of the organization is to be beefed up to sensitize the public on how they can identify condemned goods and to report to the police.
Francis had previously indicated that the breaches of the security took place at the western end of the landfill near the access road which adjoins Tarish Pit.
“We are going to continue to ensure a no access policy on the landfill in respect to scavengers and to remain vigilant in that regard,” Francis said.
If you all are confident that the so-called “big boys’ took codfish, call their names and present the facts. It is sad when we can condone the actions of the men who perpetrated this act. The saltfish was dumped according to the Corporation’s procedures and no worker or other citizen has a right to interefere with it. Is so we come then? What are we really saying about ourselves as a nation? Are we understanding the implications of the views we put forward for the world to see?
Well Well more money to be taken from tax payers for incompetence.
BEEF up security because of SALTFISH……..lolol
To whom it may concern. Why are we not into installing Camera at some of our business places and other sensitive areas in Dominica?? Yes those equipments cost lots of money no question, but we cannot sit on our hands and do nothing to curb and protect our business places,we seems to be falling in that partern of our neighbours up North {ie} talk, talk, and more talk! and act after the fact and come on radio or tv; and do damage control. I am contemplating opening a business with emphasis placed on selling security equipments my only concern is that after paying duty and taxes on stuff,maybe it will cost too much for the very people who badly need to install those equipments. but it worth a try, I will implement Five hour classes to all security minded person, for free, who eventually will be certified and go out to other parts of Dominica to educate the rest of the population. I will need voluntiers to assist any intreasted person{S} feel free to contact me. Will give the # after intreast is shown by persons.
With the ineptness and down right incompetence that governs this facility there is little wonder the these things happen. If the public really knew the inner working of facility, it would be declared a hazard to our personal and environment health. The management seems to be more interested in negotiating the internal politics of the DSWC than paying attention to the proper running of a solid waste collection and disposal system.
Wey papa another one correcting correcting correcting people posts. Get a life.
Now the horse has bolted and the the land fill manager is talking about tightening the security about the landfill. This move though necessary, surely should have been done before the fact.
With this site located within easy proximity of several poor communities, then this possibility should have been preempted. It was and remains a shameful lapse on behalf of the one responsible for securing the landfill. Simply dumping codfish(or any other hazardous waste) in an easily accessed hole/cell was definitely a gross act of irresponsibility.
You can send all the traffickers to prison, but if the correct procedure was executed, like destroying the codfish or burying it properly then all this fiasco would have been abated.
Up till now, the disgraced solid waste corp. is yet to issue an apology to:
1. the unsuspecting citizenry who may have consumed the tainted product,
2. the genuine vendors who never touched the product yet are suffering from a sales slump due to bad press,
3. all other Dominicans who have to endure the unpalatable International publicity that the name of the country has been subjected to.
That flimsy excuse of “security has been breached” just won’t cut it. There were no security measures in the first place.To add insult to injure the landfill personel had the audacity to proclaim that the tainted product was “disposed in an approved manner”.
Remember there will always be thieves and unscrupulous people lurking around, so it up to the Solid Waste to be vigilante, instead of adopting this lackadaisical approach. The even have the gall to expect the victims of this atrocity, to feel sorry for them, when (through the gross negligence of the corporation) they are indeed part and parcel of the problem.
Of course security was breached. You must know the area before you speak. Scavengers put their selves at risk to access the Landfill. If you know they even scale fence etc and can even hurt themselves so you must know facts before you make statements. How can DSWMC be part of the problem? I am still eating codfish. You know why. I don’t buy from any shop. 1. The unsuspecting Citizenry should not buy anythng from anyone who is questionable or whom they know do not have a viable buy and sell business. Genuine Vendors I will still buy because I know that you are genuine. There will always be a slump in sale due to the way the codfish fiasco was described as being in the cell with clinical waste.
do you read the news? Well the kind of things I do read about other countries so that does not justify your comment. There will always be person who act wierdly and do foolish things all over the World and not Dominica alone.
So stop blaming DSWMC and be objective in your thinking Mr or Ms Choice – X
If I were you I would not waste precious time responding to people who hide behind anonymity to make nonsensical comments. That’s the way of the country now.
Explain to me exactly how the manager of the landfill is to blame when the persons involved in stealing the codfish, especially the workers knew fully well the dangers of removing anything from “the cell”?
but who they guarding it from .(that was an inside job)they just need to put guards to guard the guards
Like srunter said who guarding the guards.
You made an excellent point. Please do not make me laugh. I did and heartily.
Something about this manager at DSWM just rubs me wrong…he does not speak, look and act like a manager of such of an important comp.
Especially when there was all the garbage around Roseau for the tourist, he acted so nonchalant on Marpin news and again last night.
This guy is an accountant, we need a real “environmental” person or someone else who will at least seem passionate about their job..
square pegs in round holes and we wonder why our country is the way it is.
Why are you a hater? Does he have to be arrogant or show off? Well he is just good – humble and pleasant. You all have a problem with humility? So what can an Accountant not become a manager? What is your prob? You seem to hate those who make it. Kudos to Mr Lawrence. Continue to be humble yet firm.
You are really a hater. Go try to become something other than a hater.
You are too well bred and you seem arrogant since you look down on people especially if they do not come from your “well bred” clan. Go fix yourself some hard work so you will know what it is to be humble.
Wow…2 comments…hmmm..seems you on his payroll….Relax before you collapse, its carnival season, free up.
Accountants are managers everywhere but they may not be suitable for certain jobs.
Beef up security o-la? When and how?
I almost thought it was a beef scandal at the landfill we. boy, frightened!
‘boodoop’ *dead* lmao…I know this is a serious matter but @Sammy I passing out dere…dat would be something eh ..bio-hole beef sale after bio-hole codfish sale
one mans trash is another mans treasure thier are people all over the world who make living in and on gabbage for thier livies and where there is gabbage u will find scavengers
Nonsense….. what is trash, should remain trash
Good to know that the officials of the landfill are taking some blame for their negligence.
VERY GOOD!!
Man that is something else in Dominica…even garbage the authorities has to secure from thieves..wow!!
You better hold your Black Berry tight….and your purse even tighter….those volier is doing google search…..(how to rob the labasse)
More emphasis on codfish, less on education and jobs. More third world commess.
rambo style
This all commendable but what really should happen is to install facilities to destroy hazardous waste upon arrival at the site. Not a word about an incinerator, for instance. Clinical waste for instance is simply buried. We have to address that without delay.
This landfill should be away from public view it is to close to homes and the main road. Find somewhere further a field.
we know of the two culprits BUT what happen to the supermarket owners who sell those goods too????
what is they still have those things in their storage and put them out for us to buy some months from now??????we need to know ….
so things get so bad now, we have to beef up security so people don’t steal our s???!!!! Wow!
I could see from the picture that this land fill is not properly managed.Tires are exposed for the breathing of mosquitoes,and give us the other 2 names of the employees that were arrested.You all are to biased in position in dominica.The 2 poor guys name were made public,stop being so biased give us the names.
Grell, very kind of you to give credit to Solid Waste (…maybe we should remame them Soiled Waste!) for providing old tires so mosquitoes can “breathe” , surely you meant “breed” my friend, although the two can be engaged in simultaneously.
next level for true
i agree>>>>so dey like it
Tahatisgood