{"id":7852,"date":"2010-04-15T11:18:26","date_gmt":"2010-04-15T17:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/?p=7852"},"modified":"2010-04-16T07:04:44","modified_gmt":"2010-04-16T13:04:44","slug":"layou-committee-and-government-at-loggerheads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/environment\/layou-committee-and-government-at-loggerheads\/","title":{"rendered":"Layou Committee and Government at loggerheads"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Chairman of Layou Improvement Committee Lazar Charles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Members of the Layou Improvement Committee (LIC) have raised concerns over statements by the Minister of Environment Kenneth Darroux, accusing them of not\u00a0 showing up for a meeting to discuss the operations of an Asphalt Plant in Layou.<\/p>\n

The Committee claimed that the Government did not consult with the Layou community before granting Jacques Garddakhan of West Indies Aggregate temporary permission to set an asphalt plant in that area.<\/p>\n

Darroux, who spoke at a press conference at the Ministry of Finance conference room Wednesday, said that the Government had in fact engaged the people of Layou on many occasions on the matter. In addition, the LIC was invited to meet with officials from the ministry, including Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to discuss the matter and several of them canceled.<\/p>\n

Unsuccessful meetings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But Chairman of that Committee Lazar Charles told Dominica News Online that this was not the case.<\/p>\n

He explained that the meeting was scheduled to take place in Layou at 6 p.m. on Monday, but a few hours before, government indicated via telephone that they were unable to travel to Layou and members of the Committee should instead come to Roseau at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told the health minister that I would try to rally the rest of the committee members, but only three were able to make the change. The Committee comprises of about 10 persons and I didn\u2019t think it was fair to have only three persons attend. I find that was a bit of a short time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to Charles,\u00a0 the health minister told him he would meet with the LIC on Wednesday, but he never showed up.<\/p>\n

Charles frowned upon Darroux for making the public think the LIC had no interest in the matter.<\/p>\n

Last year November, Layou residents protested by blocking the main road with derelict vehicles, a canoe, rope and trees, because they said that the asphalt plant which Gaddarkhan had began setting up, posed a health threat to their community.<\/p>\n

The Government had assured the community that Planning Division had placed a stop order on Gaddarkhan’s plan. However, a few months ago he was given a two-year contract for the construction of the plant to assist with Government projects.<\/p>\n

Meantime Charles said while the people of Layou want to protest again, he advised them to \u201cplay it cool,\u201d until the Committee meets with government.<\/p>\n

Void concerns <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done and dismissed all concerns they have expressed, adding “the EIA has ruled favourably that all the concerns that the Layou people have expressed they [are] really void.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to him, the summary showed that the only thing that could be pose as a problem is the ordour from the plant.<\/p>\n

Darroux said that the Government recognises that if any new industry is going to be set up in any area there will be multiple health and environmental concerns, but all of these were addressed in the EIA.<\/p>\n

He informed that a condition stipulated in Gaddarkhan’s temporary contract instruct him to setup measures to address the odour, and if this is not resolved further measures will be put in place.<\/p>\n

The minister added that a committee which will involve residents of Layou and the Government will be set up to monitor the operations of the plant on a monthly basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I want to point out especially to the Layou people is that a very important condition that was stipulated in the temporary position was that a monitoring committee\u00a0 be set up to have monthly visits to the plant where\u00a0 any sign of hanky-panky going on there of course would be detected,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n

He reassured the layout residents that any sign of non-compliance to these conditions will be seriously dealt with.<\/p>\n

\u201c The prime minister is gonna be part of the committee and we have also given the Layou people the opportunity for the actual Layou residents\u00a0 to be part of this committee. So honestly if this isn\u2019t transparency and democracy then tell me what is?\u201d Darroux remarked.<\/p>\n

– Staff reporter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Members of the Layou Improvement Committee (LIC) have raised concerns over statements by the Minister of Environment Kenneth Darroux, accusing them of not\u00a0 showing up for a meeting to discuss the operations of an Asphalt Plant in Layou. 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