Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
News
March 23, 2007

Bequians say no to incinerator

Bequians are in stern objection to any plan to use their island as the site for an incinerator to be used for waste from all the Grenadine islands – “The preposterous plan” is what the Peoples’ Action Alliance of Bequia (PAAB) called it in a letter addressed to Garth Saunders, General Manager of the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA).

In the letter dated March 14, the PAAB suggested that Bequians considered it an abomination to have garbage from Canouan processed in Bequia, when in their estimation the largest amount of garbage from Canouan is produced by Raffles Resort.{{more}}

“Raffles is on 1200 acres of land, and accommodation there can cost US$1000 per night. The gross income of that resort alone probably exceeds that of all the commercial enterprises of Bequia put together,” the letter states.

Saunders however told SEARCHLIGHT that the Grenadines Waste Management plan was being implemented based on the findings and recommendations of an independent consultancy, Parsons Brinckerhoff.

He said that the plans for the incinerator were part of an integrated approach to waste management: recycling, reusing, incineration and landfilling.

Saunders explained that in the Grenadines, the development of landfills are limited by the islands’ size and the inadequacy of cover material (top soil).

According to the proposal, the equivalent of seven trucks per week of plastics will be imported into Bequia from Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island to be incinerated in a two-chamber incinerator. While disposed metals from the Grenadines would be shipped to St Vincent for export to Trinidad and other countries.

Another concern raised by the PAAB is the damage that would be done to the roads of Bequia due to the increased trucking on the roads. But Saunders, in one of his letters addressed to Pat Mitchell, an executive member of PAAB said that the damage to the roads would be only marginal.

Bequia has concrete roads.

“In any event it is the job of responsible governments and the Roads Divisions to repair and rehabilitate the heavily traversed roads more often than the others,” the letter states.

As for the concerns about harmful emissions, Saunders told SEARCHLIGHT that the consultants considered that the emissions that would be generated by the incinerator would be sufficiently in line with international standards; the effect on the drinking water was also considered.

PAAB is however unconvinced and believes that one of the main attractions to the Park site in Bequia was the availability of roads. “It is better to spend money now to create a safe area for the incinerator than have to abort a misconceived project at some later date when permanent damage has been done to the fragile environment of this small island, or to her inhabitants.”

Saunders told SEARCHLIGHT that the decision making process was not yet over and dialogue between all concerned parties is being encouraged.

“Consultants will be back shortly to again look at environmental concerns, wind direction, social acceptability and all other issues,” Saunders said.

Saunders said that the CSWA/ Solid Waste Management Unit is appreciative of the need to protect the fragile Grenadine islands so all the concerns raised are appreciated.

“We are taking all the concerns raised seriously and will continue to encourage dialogue so that we can come up with the best possible solution to solid waste management in the Grenadines,” he said.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok