Chairman of the La Plaine Disaster Preparedness Management Committee, Jason Fontaine, is lamenting what he says is the dumping of pig waste from a nearby pig farm into the Taberi River, in La Plaine, and has called on authorities to find an “urgent solution” to end the pollution.
In an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO), on Monday, Fontaine claimed that the farm, which was not to exceed four hundred pigs, now holds “between three and four thousand pigs.”
“He [the pig farmer] has a farm that is close to the river, and when his employees are bathing and feeding the pigs, and using the hose to wash down the pig pen, that waste water is going into the river,” he told DNO. “It is very close to the river, within about one hundred to two hundred feet from the river.”
Fontaine noted that residents in the area rely on the river in the event of natural disasters, and would be heavily disadvantaged by the polluted water.
“The La Plaine community was using that resource to accommodate themselves in laundry, and drinking water, and cooking water,” he said. “Now, they cannot use the second river if there is a disaster, because it is contaminated. There’s feces, continuously, everyday…They cannot use that water to drink, they cannot use that water to bathe, their body is scratching them.”
It is alleged that the waste is threatening to aquatic life in the area, and directly affects villagers’ livelihoods and culinary traditions involving fish from the river.
“The water is contaminated. It is polluted. The fish are dying. They’re washing up on the shore. There is no titiwi in the river, there is no bouk. The crawfish is dying as a result of that…” Fontaine complained. “People sell titiwi, and now they cannot get it. The water is infected, it is polluted. The titiwi is not coming into the river… The locality of the environment, of the community, where it’s a tradition… They can’t get those things.”
Fontaine also claimed that the polluted river has had a negative impact on tourism in La Plaine, particularly as a well-known hotel is located along the river.
“There were some tourists that came, and they could smell the water. The water was literally smelling of pig urine, pig feces, and the tourists had to leave and go to another hotel,” he stated.
He referred to the situation as a “disaster in the making,” and insisted that it is matter of “national concern.” He said that the appropriate authorities have long been contacted.
A public meeting will be held on Sunday, August 28, at 6:00pm, at La Plaine, to address the matter, Fontaine said.
Take what you all get,when a massive outbreak happens Skerrit will heal you all,once you support Skerrit no rule no law can stop us,
DNO,Continue printing propaganda and omitting the truth
Didn’t the people of La Plaine vote DLP in 2009 and 2014? So let them take what they get I have no empathy/sympathy for them. This is what you call reaping what you sow
Laplaine isn’t polarized politically.
We all work together.
We’re smart enough to know the difference between an environmental issue, a business issue and a political issue.
Not everything has to be about politics.
This is a pig farmer business owner that has exceeded the allowed amount of livestock 1000 %!
Its an issue of breaking the law and destroying our environment that needs to be addressed immediately.
DNO you all need to be careful with Jason Fontaine and the information you publish from him. This man is an attention seeker and all of the information he provided re that pig farm is inaccurate. I’m quite surprised that the farm owner hasn’t sued Jason and DNO. Please verify information before publishing. If you all want persons out there to take your news articles seriously, please consider the source of the information and the mental health of the informants.
I know this comment might not be published, but ill write it anyway. This pig farmer has no where near 3000-4000 pigs, not even half that amount. And this farm is not 100-150 feet from the river but approx. 4 times that distance or further, to verify simply measure it.
Pollution of the river cannot be ascertained since all samples sent for testing at Bureau of standards and Dowasco labs revealed otherwise.
If by some chance the river is polluted, it cannot be proved by science and the pollution level is…
Negligible as it relates to the health of the public. Rivers, especially large rivers like the Taberie river has the potential to clean out themselves, and since the water that is alledgley entering the river has to travel beneath the surface for almost 600-700 before it can possibly reach the river, if that water were to reach the river it would have filtered it self through the spores of the soil and surfaces of the rocks and would be rendered clean and usable water.
I may be corrected but in my view this is using science and facts to describe what is taking place on that farm, a farm which in my view is suitably located since the numerous acres of lands where the farm is centered is demarked as farm land. This farm should be given priority over any other business that is not agriculture related. All that needs to be done is the health department has to continue monitoring the river and working with the farm owner to improve farm sanitation and improve disposal treatment…
There is one at THE FIRST Powell in the village of Grand Bay ,,i have said this many times ,but every time i go back to Dominica that big pig pen is still next to the river..when it it is hot it stinks a lot,,,when the owner decides to clean it up he throws all the waste /poo into the river..this has to stop ,,
I tent to support the policies of the current government but is they and their MP are not doing anything about this like ASAP… its time to vote them out!!!
Get people to march up their and remove him or his pigs from our village!! period!
The policy of this government that you support is based on corruption and corruption has long and far reaching tentacles. The pig farmer is a cabal and because of this he runs above law, morality and reason. It is the nk law no constitution syndrome that you support. It is not the first time this dangerous situation has benn brought to the piblic. Not only is there a piggery gone wild bit there are other things that have been done by cabalists – the truth will hit the public and people will be in awe
Environmental Health officials can go around and cut people drums they put to collect water and so long that problem is there existing and they yet to man up and get a solution….this is a serious problem and people will not understand it unless they visit the area and let their eyes boil their peas!
Stinking vibes……just a set of talk and no ACTION…..but allyou like allyou swine, pork and other “garbage”… I am vegetarian and just hope that some of you come over…you will never regret the move.
If the folks who work at Environmental Health and the Planning division were allowed to do their job without political interference, things would be different in our beloved Dominica.
Some of you will chastise me for this comment, but I say it as I see it.
i am so proud of the people of laplaine. Well done. This problem has been going on for far to long. I have witnessed first had the problem at the hotel. I stayed there and was pretty upset by the business man was being treated in the nature isle. what mockery of the concept. I had to leave the place early next day. what was the most troubling was that my children were crazy to use the river, I reluctantly allowed them to use it. I was so upset with myself with allowing my children in a river that I could see was affected by the waste issue.
the chairperson is on point, the number of animals has surpassed the carrying capacity at least 3x over. There is another issue that must be considered , pig waste is high in phosphorous and this being deposited in the soil and in river, this could potentially be the reason for the die offs due to the changes in the flora in the river. again congratulations Laplaine, I support your cause.
If what Sakwayy Gass says is tr;ue and the former EHO made numerous attempts to end the situation, don’t we think some TOP BRASS people should pay for that disaster that is brewing in La Plaine. Starting with the Village Council, the current EHO, his Director, the Health team, the Ministry of Health, the Parliamentary Representative and of course the Government, One Man.
But where were all of you, when Dominica Coconut Product (DCP) made havoc in the Belfast river at Mahaut, when night and day they were dumping their chemical waste in the river, killing every living creature downstream and those trying to survive in the estuary? How comes people never protested that disregard for the public\’s health and safety? After-all, that where the entire village people would go and have their bath.
Well, it was the \”big shots\” like Ms. Charles (mamo), The Rolls, Nassief, Astaphan\’s et al, who were the share holders of the factory – Rulers of the poor and voiceless. Well, no one knows how many of us got infected by this polluted water and the fish. It\’s Dominica all over again.
Let me add a little to what Shaka Zulu was saying. Mr Royer was an Enterpreneur, who helped in the employment in Dominica. This man at one time had13 Buses on the streets of Roseau from Point Michel to Mahaut and Goodwill. He later had SuperMarket in Riseau.
Royer then closed shop and disappeared , after some years he returned to Dominica. We later learned he went to either China or Japan can’t remember, but on his return he let us Dominican know about the technology he learned overseas he set up a plantation in Giraudel and began producing Bio fuel he was on the Radio trying to tell Dominicans about making our own Cooking gas, he would invite Schools to bring the children to learn the technology. That was many moons ago .
So yes Shaka Zulu, instead of the people crying about the pig down some one can collect the DOWN and turn it into some thing positive for the village like cooking gas. Where are the young entrepreneurs.
What nonsense is that??!!! The polluter is responsible for his mess; People shouldn\’t have to pick up after him for no reason whatsoever.
We no longer have rivers in Dominica, but ravines – Because this administration know nothing concerning the environment and pollution.
Memory
You sound like a fool that cannot be enlightened. Think of the populace and not your friend and your selfish motive.
pure nonsense you talking with your pig fuel garbage. I’m from Laplaine and bathed in that river as a child ad every time I’m in Laplaine I bathed in that river rather than a shower. Its a place that eh men congregate to cook and drink with their families and the women wash clothes or catch titiwi.
River life is a part of Laplaine culture, we can drink water from our rivers that how clean it is or used to be!!!
so take your pig …. and make your fuel in your own backyard but dont spew your stupidity on us as if we are illiterate and powerless. Laplaine people will come for you… for sure!!!
I need to clarify Memory’s comment. “Royer then closed shop and disappeared, after some years he returned to Dominica. We later learned he went to either China or Japan…..”
Mr. Royer moved to Giraudel after closing his business in Roseau, he did not disappear. It was the late Ted Boyd, (not Mr. Royer) who traveled to China and saw the production of bio gas from pig slurry. On his return Mr. Boyd experimented with the bio gas and gave Mr. Royer a 40 gallon drum of the bio gas that Mr. Royer used for cooking and demonstrating to us from his farm in Giraudel that we could in fact use pig slurry as a source of fuel. Mr. Royer then proceeded to process the pig slurry from his farm to produce bio gas as fuel.
This is a serious matter and also losing tourism over this. The health of everyone is at stake. I hope once and for all something drastic could be done about it.
Any way some sort of dam could be built and deep enough to hold these residues and avoid further contaminating the river?
May the authorities immediately decide on a feasible suggestion and concrete implementation to avoid further pollution of the water. This situation needs to be immediately solved.
If you this troll only knew who it is that is doing this and the authorites refuse to act because is a Skerrit soldier you would be writing the usual crap.
I hope this guy who was also accused of other despicable behavior gets his share of justice
The government needs to employ this man we need a leader like him to get stuff done he has shown it from the very bigging for so long this matter has been pending and he came under his leadership and face this head on thats the kind of l eadershipe laplaine needs keep up the good work mr fontaine god will bless you yes si good job well done
It is regrettable and unfortunate that I have to resort to writing such statements;but I have to write it anyway,”Take what you all get.” Unless the people have come to the knowledge that the time has come for action on the ground when things affect them . Based on what is going on and affecting them,the only resolution now,is to get rid of that pig sty themselves!
The point is that these party in power supporters do what they want and get away with it.
Finally this is making national news… It is a shame that the taberi river which was once a vibrant recreational area has now been reduced to a pig toilet… This same man had a similar pig farm in Grandfond and was run out of the commnity because of the same issue. Now he has come to laplaine with his thousands of pigs and no prper disposal for waste.. This has been brought to the attention of the health department and the parl rep. long ago. Nothing i being done to address the situation. If action is not taken soon, the people of laplaine will have to take action into their own hands!!!
The blame rest squarely on a very weak, laisser-faire and ineffective Environmental Health Department.
this is true!!!!!!
I’m not promoting anything but if that is the case and the owner thinks his PIGS are more important to him/her than human health(the community), there could be a solution…. Those who can’t hear can feel…. Pigs eat anything, right?… Food for thought… Is wicked he/she wicked well ……
Then when one desgrunted resident would spread poison for the pigs and then they becomes affected and the farmer then slaughter these pigs for sale , a lot of people are going to be sick
BEB, that’s your thinking which I respect…. don’t say what I didn’t say… Never used the word poison.
The people should not patronize the business in the first place. This is where it starts. Clean up or park up. He knows better, he is a trained professional, who undertstand how to establish a proper sanitary business. But he knows that the people or the government will just stand by, complain and continue buying pork; so life goes on with him and his disrespectful ways. The people of Laplaine apparently don’t care. It seems that if a laborite feeds another laborite with pig …., he will eat the ….and say its peanut butter. Leave these people alone – red coolaid is more important to them than a clean river.
The reason the Abattoir is situated in the Layou Valley is because of this pig farmer and his associate who is and was a chicken farmer. At the time the person whose initials begin with a (T) was and maybe still is very much an influence in the Government. The abattoir was situated for their convenience as one lives in the Rosealea La Plaine area and the other in Jimmit. There has never ever been a environmental study for this location. The abattoir is built on the water table to the whole of the Layou valley. The abattoir is in the wrong place and is very likely also to contaminate the Layour river. It is obvious from what is happening in the Taberi river La Plaine that his individual is totally selfish and does not care at all about the pollution he is creating. I believe in Karma and in it’s time this individual will pay big time. In the mean time please do something to stop this happening in this beautiful river and what could happen in the Layou river. Shame on you.
Why should we have to wait for “karma”? With all due respect to “karma” , it has an annoying habit of coming later on. If the Government is serious about health and conservation like Minister Darroux is always saying, then they need to walk the walk. ‘Mr. Koson’ cannot be holding the good people of LaPlaine ransom.
Its a shame that the owner of the farm would let it come to thins. This country is really too free. pride and self assumed “rights” is our setbacks. we do wat we want and nobody can tell us nothing because we think it is our right. We burn rubbish smoking up the entire neighborhood, we play music at the loudest levels thinking everyone else wants to hear our music, sometimes from sun up to sun down. Dominicans have become highly inconsiderate and selfish
I share those sentiments. They come in the middle of the night when all lights are off – people are sleeping. They park their big SUVs in the middle of the street and play their music at the loudest possible volume with all four doors wide open. It’s beyond me how we have become so lawless and down right selfish. Our country is like a cowboy town. Everybody is the law. It’s the wild west.
Thats the type of leadership we need a man that can stand up to transparency for years this been going on a stop older was issued and this man ignore that stop order we need to bring the court system back were people pay a fine for those things this is a crime pollution to or natural resources good job mr fontaine keep up the good work enough is enough
Excellent work Mr. Fontaine! You do your job well and take it very seriously. Proud of you.
EBIRFTOH..
CA
In 1998 one of my A level final exam question was how does the intensity and extension of Agriculture affect the environment. That was 18 years ago. Somtimes i wonder why we even bother go to school and get an education. Although the responsibility of a clean belongs to all of us its also paramount that effective policy and enforcement go hand in hand. For years the blenhim river and many other rivers have been destroyed by nutrients (eutrophication) and pesticides from banana plantations on the flood plains. To date no one knows the true extent yet we wonder why so many people with cancer. The story above reminds me how tine change but our minds dont. Every agri or industrial development has a side effect called pollution and if not managed properly will result in a chain or cycle of destruction. In the case above, this is a textbook case of poor planning, lack of environmental oversight and a narrow mindedness when it comes to development. A great but simple solution would be
to utilze all this waste and convert to biofuel which coulg be stored and used as cooking gas for the people of laplain at greatly reduced prices. It would help with the pollution problem and renewal of waste. Solid material could be dried and used as organic fertilizers. As a little kid in primary school i visited a farm in Giraudel ran by a man i only remembered as Mr. Royer who was already using that technology in the 80s. It seems we are experiencing mental/intellectual regression in this place or is this just simply the sad effects of a brain drain. I have been doing environmental consulting for over 10years in another man country and it pains me to read this story above. There is so much to say but it may simple fall on deaf ears. One day one day we will catch up.
I thought the Chairman is the authority. Why doesnt he come up with a plan and present it to the government. What is there for if he can’t even find a solution or implement a plan?????
A plan is being implemented
Maybe he wants to come up with a plan but wants to first sensitize the communities and then seek their input. If that is his intention then that is a most splendid approach. Then he can engage the appropriate authorities and experts in finalizing the appropriate solution.
Don’t the Chairman fight him or laugh at his efforts, or scorn or belittle his efforts. Instead add your ideas, if any, and work with him and the Farmer in a way to find an AMICABLE solution.
I meant “Don’t fight the Chairman or laugh at his efforts, or scorn or belittle his efforts. Instead add your ideas, if any, and work with him and the Farmer in a way to find an AMICABLE solution.
Did he tell you that he was an expert! He is simply highlighting a problem!
Pig waste is the most disgusting thing , one can live next to, it stinks ,and allowing that thing in the river is absurd, I need the people of la plain to protest bring the issue to the for front, health comes before profit stop the nonsense before more people down stream become affected,, This is a serious health problem , we in Dominica have enough already to deal with health wise. How can we promote the Island as the nature Island with polluted rivers from pig waste?.now come on people.
Much needed article. Though he failed to mention the numerous attempts made by the past EHO of the district to end the situation were undermined since the owner of the pig farm is a well known supporter of the Government. I.e; the La Plaine people’s health and safety are of no concern to those in authority. Smh. This is a disgrace. I have been to that area and the farmers must traverse through liquified pig waste to get to their farms on a daily basis. Magway sa.
Yes, I remember signing a petition since 2012 for this abomination to be removed in the community, but nothing has been done. And what is even worse is that this man isn’t even from LaPlaine ,and the people have to deal with his pig dung! Laplaine people have always been proud of their rivers and have a legacy of keeping them clean. And now, this Government’s friend can just come in the place, mess up the area and no matter what the people say, no matter what they do, he is not moving his “kaka konson” from the place!
well said…over 500 villagers signed a petition to remove the pigs or build a proper sewage for the pig waste…nothing has been done.. the pal rep knows about that situation. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH…and what hurts the most the owner of the pigs is a very well known vet…and to my common knowledge. pig waste is very unhealthy..( the worst manure)
its just a shame that people in power are allowed to do what the hell they want to poor people and get away…