New cemetery in South Rivers

Acting Chief Environmental Officer Rupert Doyle is calling on Vincentians to desist from tethering their animals in cemeteries across the state.{{more}}

Doyle made the plea at the opening of the new four acre South Rivers Cemetery on Sunday, September 6th, 2009.

“Sometimes persons who are buried died from several diseases. Some of them are infectious diseases…We have to be careful and mindful that some of these diseases such as Tuberculosis and Anthrax have organisms or bacteria that can survive for a very long time.”

Doyle said even though these two bacteria do not have the necessary conditions for growth and development, they can remain in their dormant stage until conditions are favourable.

“Persons think tying an animal in the cemetery is something that they should do because there is grass in the cemetery. Apart from grass, there may be diseases as well,” Doyle emphasized, noting that some diseases can pass on from animals to humans.

Doyle appealed to the nation to have all meat intended for consumption, including those killed for home use or cook outs, inspected.

Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves, Area Representative for North Central Windward, noted the new cemetery will serve the people of Park Hill and South Rivers. Previously, residents of these areas had to travel all the way to Colonarie to bury their loved ones.

Dr.Gonsalves told his constituents that several important community projects are being carried in their communities at the moment.

He used the opportunity to inform his constituents that soon letters will be given to persons in Park Hill who have been allocated lands. He urged those in South Rivers who may feel jealous to be patient because he has given instructions to survey three to four acres of lands in that community which he will purchase to build low income and no income houses on part of those lands.

Denniston Douglas, Local Government Officer in the Ministry of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning, Land & Surveys and Local Government, is currently working on a management plan which will provide a framework for the day-to-day management of all public cemeteries in the state.

The management plan will include demarcation of plots to better manage available lands in these cemeteries. Each district will have a registrar of burials to record all relevant information to maintain accurate records, to support the provision of a respectful and sensitive burial service, and the beautification of cemeteries.

Douglas said his ministry has received many complaints from persons about the conduct of grave diggers in the public cemeteries.

“We aim to stamp out this behaviour and obscene language during any burial services,” said Douglas. He noted that a training session will be held for cemetery caretakers and grave diggers.

Meanwhile, Kenrick Glynn, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, said in the past, cemeteries suffered from a number of problems: excessive vegetation growth, encroachment by housing and farming, poor conditions of access road, unclear or undefined boundaries, numerous unmarked graves and the lack of proper records, unrestricted access, tethering of animals, and the dumping of garbage.

Glynn said there has been an increase in the budget this year to cater for cemeteries and this is being used at present to train grave diggers and beautify cemeteries. He said the Physical Planning Unit is working with the Local Government Department on the layout of the graves to make the best use of the lands. The Land and Surveys Department will assist with the surveying work to put in proper boundaries and the allocation of lands. (HN)