Persons with asthma, bronchitis and other types of diseases are facing serious problems in River Estate, Canefield, due to high levels of smoke emitted from three coal pits belonging to someone from the area.
A resident of the area, Oliver McCurdy Jr., stated that a man has over the years been making coal nearby and it is having an effect on the health of those who live around.
McCurdy told DNO that the matter is “really affecting us.”
The coal pits are located in the bushes some distance away, however, according to McCurdy, when the wind changes direction, the smoke comes towards the residential areas.
“There are people around with sinus; I have a very bad sinus problem. There are a lot of elderly people living here,” McCurdy said.
He stated that numerous reports have been made to the Environmental Health Unit.
“Environment came, they report it, and they warn him. Couple weeks ago they gave him a citation and this man is not stopping. Now they say that they cannot do anything more, they going to take it to court. Taking it to court, how long that going to take? This man is just causing a lot of problems,” he said.
Environmental Health Officer, Zilma Charles she said that after many failed attempts to get the individual to stop, the matter has been taken to court and there is “nothing more” that the Unit can do.
She has advised that the villagers bear some patience as the court case moves along.
Not only have the villagers complained to the Environmental Coordinating Unit about the air pollution, but concerns have also been brought to the Canefield Urban Council where they too have equal concerns about the health of the villagers.
The council was made aware that the matter has been brought to court; however, it believes that something temporary should be done during the time taken for the court case to be processed.
The Environmental Health Department like the Director of Public Prosecution Office and so many departments within the auspices of the government are obsolete. If several reports were made to this department and nothing was done, this is ineptitude at its highest point.
A functioning Environmental Health Department would have shut that down a long time ago.
from seen the day this was posted i am not going to lie i was not getting smoke it look like he had stop The Environmental Health Department came too him the same day with 6 POLICEMEN he was in the house when they call him he never come out but as of the 4th of this month he start back i call The Environmental Health Department Officer because the last time she told as if he put fire in it again call her anytime nite or day and she will call the POLICE this time she told me just watch to see up too today no police or her all last nite that i walking from work and that is killing me how can u get some help in Dominica can someone tell me
This happens in many villages and residential areas all over Dominica. There is an insidious problem regarding smoke and noise pollution that are affecting the health of citizens who have issues with asthma and other respiratory challenges, and the perpetrators actually do no care. They accuse victims of wanting to prevent them from making a living but in fact what they are doing is killing the living deliberately.
What prevents the authorities from stopping this summarily? Is it that they do not care about their fellow citizens and sometimes even relatives? What has happened to our island that all of these nefarious practices are constantly affecting helpless citizens including the elderly, bed ridden and children/infants, with nary a care from those who can correct the situation? Are we still a christian and caring society or are we just talking about it? Come on people do we still believe in God?
Those people concerned about their health …..but the topic move to deforestation…..people the focus her is the health danger to the residence. lets stick to it we tend to lose focus too much man. Or we maybe really to bright
It is unfortunate that the residents have to put up with these unhealthy fumes. The government must have a heart to heart talk with the man about the health of residents; even his own health. He must be told that it is not personally directed at him but for health reasons. This should include all those who burn a lot of stuff all over Dominica which affect other residents.
They must suggest if he continues to burn it that it should be done elsewhere, far away from residential areas. If possible, an expert could suggest how he could conduct this burning without it being a health hazard to residents.
The authorities must organize a meeting to discuss this serious matter and to find a solution to it as soon as possible.
when all u finish blame erica and climate change when slide start to roll…and all u have haitain too, well. all u well meet, cutting trees like haiti…to make coals no supervision….Athie weh you…
I would just gather a whole set of men from the community with some pails of water to go and wet it.
Is more trees we need… not less..
Who is this fool?
DEFORESTATION is the key word cutting down trees in the nature Island is not conducive to what we portray around the world , so please stop cutting down the trees , the people in government should promote examples, I witness them cutting those beautiful ma mosa trees across the street from forte young last year, and I asked my self why? those trees when they where in blossom they were so pretty it adorn the Dominica state house and they cut them down, it start from the top the government , it had to be approved by some one at the top , and now everybody is cutting tress, land slide in the Philippines due to tree cutting sending to china to make chop sticks, Haiti same problem to make fire wood, enough is enough STOP THE NONESENSE.
A few years ago there was flooding in residential Canefield, if not more than once. Cutting trees to build homes. The rainwater has nowhere to go. When the rain falls, it floods these areas since they are no longer protected by trees. In those days the water would flow to the roots of the trees and underneath which would absorb it.
There is a price to pay for progress.
the key word as la po gabwit said but he use the wrong word we talking about SMOKE not cutting of trees if they can deal with the coal pits problem then after u can more deal with that
Men thats country living how can you stop that?
Country living…. really well tell him go to the country and make coals this is a residential area when someone dies from smoke inhalation only then he may stop i live in the area i know what i am talking about thats my experience
Why are you using this name? It does not belong to you nor does it make any sense. What do you derive from it and are trying to prove? Someone else thought of it and is using it, whether a word is different. Can you not think of something else unique for you? Why be a copycat? Are you not intelligent to think of a name for yourself?
I am unable to comprehend that with millions of words, you have to use this one and spell a word wrongly at that.
Nevertheless, it is unhealthy for the residents. They will develop allergies and other illnesses, you know, as second-hand smoke. They could eventually die from this inhalation, especially the elderly.
The younger ones will not escape. Eventually, they too, will develop a disease of the lungs. The ear, nose and throat are connected. Their blood will also be affected. So you see, it will affect the entire body.
i am not saying the man should stop making his living BUT NOT IN AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE A LIVING
Its not only at Canefield.We are also getting high levels of smoke at Stock farm.The environmental health unit needs to do their jobs and put an end to this madness.You can barely breathe at night with people burning rubbish however they want and making coal pits here there and everywhere.
That is the price of poverty!
That the price one pays in a backward primitive country. When I was a kid, I saw plenty of that in Dominica, we used chalk coal for heating the old irons used for pressing, and ironing cloths. Some people who could afford used it for cooking, mainly in Roseau.
In the villages a wood fire was used for outside cooking in a outside primitive kitchen. That was more than sixty years ago. We are in the twenty-first century, where LPG, BUT gas and electricity are used for ironing, and cooking internationally.
Dominica seems to be the exception, where the pit-hole is still used to store feces, and chalk coal is still used for cooking on a coal-pot. We talk plenty on our country, government gives the impression that Dominicans live better than people elsewhere even the more developed nations: Nevertheless, the truth is in what we see, the coal burning is proof of our nation poverty!
I would not call it poverty. Some people love to continue with their former ways. Coal burns faster than electricity and it is cheaper than electricity.
In the developed nations, there are still some people who live primitively, in the remote areas. Some do not have computer, TV and internet. I am certain the US is no different.
Example, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunication Corporation – CRTC has recently mandated that all providers must give their customers high speed internet service. I am all for high speed. We were gorged just for high speed with increasing cost.
Bell Provider already charged us a one-time fee to help with this installation in remote areas. Bell set its fee at $5.00 including a smaller amount. We bear the cost.
One day those who do not have a computer will be able to have one with internet service at a fee, based on their income, for low-income people. Relevant interest groups
were successful at that.
All countries have poverty.
“I would not call it poverty. Some people love to continue with their former ways. Coal burns faster than electricity and it is cheaper than electricity.”
You know I refuse to call you any nasty name on this one because you just prove to me that you do not have any clue of what you are talking about! You cannot compare wood chalk-coal with electricity, electricity is instance, it is always present in a electrical circuit, as long as there is PD (potential deference) the generation of electricity.
How can coal burn faster than electricity: Let me show you this, it takes about fifteen minuets to light a coal fire!! Think about any light switch in your house and a light bulb, or lamp. With the flick of a switch you light goes on, it is instant, and can kill you in less than one second okay!
Cooking on an Electric, and Gas Stoves, are much quicker and less annoying than using chopped wood, or coal, a very primitive way of cooking.
Telemaque, when will you learn to communicate properly? You are always quick to insult people and make derogatory comments. You act as if you are the only one who is intelligent.
You do not know me; know nothing about me except what I write. Whether you did, always be respectful. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
You make this Website an unpleasant experience for others. Learn to converse intelligently and in a dignified manner. Otherwise, your dirty habits will remain with you and accompany you to eternity. Should you not be concerned about that?
Tel
Dominicans be careful. Coal pits comes on a regular basis is preceded by cutting of trees. This brings about deforestation, when done on a regular basis, and then big problems.
Look at Haiti. In many ways I see DA heading down the same path that I read that Haiti went down
Please be careful. Take a different path. This one is not good.
I did not address the health situation as it was addressed in the story.