The residents of Stock Farm took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against what they claim is the “unhealthy dumping of waste material” on a former landfill in the area which has been closed now for years.
They blocked the road to prevent vehicles from dumping waste on the site.
Wayne Shillingford a resident of the community was part of the protest action and spoke to DNO in an exclusive interview.
According to him, the relevant authorities are yet to come to speak to them since they have been using the area, now used as a site for playing basketball and football, as “a dump site” for galvanize and other waste materials after the passage of Hurricane Maria.
“Galvanize are being placed on our basketball court and lumber on our football field. Since November 28, 2017, they are yet to come and fumigate the galvanize and we are not happy about that since this is a breeding site for rodents,” he said.
He went on to quote Section 11 of the Vector Control laws of Dominica which he said states that “anyone harboring or breeding mosquitoes is liable…and can be charged.”
“In that same instant, the Solid Waste Management and the Environmental Division is in breach of such laws since they are collecting the galvanize and are not taking the necessary action to make sure that those illnesses and vector-borne mosquitoes and rodents are prevented,” Shillingford said.
He said the protest action was to prevent more dumping on the site.
“So we have taken action to stop them from dumping materials on the site. We had a meeting with the Solid Waste officials who informed us that they would be doing the necessary work to inform people that this site is closed,” he stated. “While Solid Waste was using the area as the original landfill, they used the spot where the galvanize are now disposed to bury asbestos materials and other biomedical waste including syringes, gloves, pieces of foot, hands etc a few years ago.”
He explained that an excavator was sent “a few days ago with the knowledge of the people in the community and started to dig which is unhealthy since there is the possibility that the aforementioned materials may be exposed and present serious health risks for residents of the community.”
The police were also called scene and Task Force officers dressed in SSU uniform unblocked the road but the residents said they will “not allow any vehicles to dump more materials on the site.”
Meanwhile PRO of the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, Jeno Jacob, has appealed to truckers and the public not to dump on the site since it is now closed.
He stated in a live interview with Kairi FM News that the area was used as a temporary dump site for galvanize and wood after Maria and a meeting was held with residents in the area last week and the decision was made to close the site.
Jacob said an announcement was made on the radio warning that no one should dump in the area.
“We are saying to truckers at this moment now …not to bring any galvanize and wood to the Stock Farm area …” he said.
Is this a power struggle that we are witnessing?The PRO for waste management company issues a warning that the site is closed and no more dumping should be done there, and on the other hand, someone sends the SSU in full combat gear to confront those responsibly and concerned citizens standing up to the vagabonds who are violating the law.This is shameful and someone in authority should come forward to apologize and explain to the residents why this happened and promise that it will never happen again there or anywhere else in Dominica.This business of a militarized police confronting unarmed civilians for every minor social issue has to stop.Skerritt and Blackmoore need to go to parliament and tell the Dominican people why there is a need for an army, provide the training and finances for an army.Also, provide clear guidelines as to when the police are to be used and when the army is to be called out.
This is so shameful, pure intimidation and misuse of power. Unfortunately today’s Dominica lacks civil courage and puts up with Skerrits oppression. I just ask myself sometimes: who the f… does that fake doctor thinks he is? I live in Germany and boy I tell you, I wish I could sent just 10 members of their GSG9 unit to my home country. It would only take these 10 to blow the entire Dominican police force into oblivion and enable my fellow countrymen to remove this man from power, instigate a new and fair election and exercise our civil rights and duties from then on in a fashion that does not only benefit ourselves but foremost our beloved country. We can not go on like this because in the long run he does not only destroy Dominica but each and everyone of us that doesn’t dance to his tune.
man you are a fool.
You are the fool for supporting a Prime Minister that sucks the country try. Ultimately, when he is finished he will drop all you and laugh at you.
They say police was looting too.
maybe the government should setup a recycling plant to recycle all the scrap metal and plastic, or export it…
You are asking alot of them…!
The police resources are badly misused to intimidate and harass citizens and residents. For a small, non-violent protest out come the police attired and equipped for war against unarmed civilians. Handcuffs and handguns should only be used as a last resort. Innocent citizens could have been killed just for exercising their constitutional rights to protest peacefully. This only can stir up resentment for the police who are presently held in very low esteem by the community. The government by extension is culpable. This is what you get when the top echelon of the Security Forces is highly political. This Police Force main mission is not to serve and protect the citizens. Their loyal lies with the ruling politicians to shamelessly bow to their whims and fancies.
Kudos to all the residents who took the courageous stance, to send an unequivocal message to the relevant authorities that no one should endanger their health by irresponsibly dumping waste materials in their community. This action is irrefutable evidence that the authorities have scant regards for the citizens wellbeing. What caring government does this? This happens because the authorities are unable to see the people as simply human beings but as voters to be exploited. Would this have happened very close to an election? There is an unspeakable ugliness in this kind of action.
But where are the protestors nou? Something as unhealthy and dangerous like that only a handful of residents protesting? Sometimes I just feel like saying hell with Dominica man
I think it is high time that we stop this clueless government from ordering the police to scenes of peaceful activities. To make matters worse they come and are dressed in SSU uniform. All they are doing is trying to intimidate people and show strength. What is wrong with that PM? I mean just after the hurricane exactly the same people but this time without uniform were seen looting. Skerrit, Blackmoore and Carbon were not capable of stoping them or perhaps didn’t they want to stop them. All these shameful activities by DLP operatives selling aid goods are not stopped by the police. These lawyers involved in that fraud case with that Colombian have they been interviewed by the police? Man, I’m am so sick of Skerrit, his so called government and his so called police force.
SSU used to enable illegal dumping. Where were they when illegal looting took place.