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
Understanding the Law
April 21, 2006

Consider the effect of smoke on your neighbours

I am diverting from my usual topic to make an appeal for clean air. Some time ago we looked at the issue of nuisance and it was mentioned that a nuisance emanating from our neighbour’s land may deny us the enjoyment of our own land. Vincentians are not a contentious people and they exercise great forbearance in many matters, otherwise the courts would have been cluttered with cases of nuisance. It is only in extreme cases that most seek the services of the court. {{more}} They show concern and respect for their neighbours and expect their neighbours to reciprocate. If one draws the matter to the attention of the wrongdoer, perhaps there would be an abatement of the nuisance.

Quite a great deal has been said about cigarette smoking and the effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs of active and passive smokers. We will, however, devote this article to concerns about the smoke that is created when persons light fires or burn coal pits in their back yards, or that which emanates from vehicles on the road.

Smoke is unhealthy; it is stifling and uncomfortable. It causes sore eyes, tears, coughs and runny noses. It can aggravate conditions of the respiratory tract, such as asthma. Smoke contaminates and pollutes the atmosphere. Those persons who live near to busy roads can speak of the black grime that comes from the exhaust of vehicles and discolors their curtains.

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles. It is said that the biggest health threat comes from the fine particles. These particles are usually trapped by the hair in our nostrils, but some will still get into our lungs. Could you imagine our lungs with this soot?

We are usually very concerned with preventing contaminants from entering the water that we drink, and rightly so. But we need to pay more attention to the pollutants that we breathe into our lungs. Whenever we attempt to light a fire we must remember that “lungs are at work” in the neighbourhood and that only clean air should enter our bodies.

A trip to the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital will bring home to us quite vividly, the need for clean air. The asthma bays are filled with persons seeking assistance from the medical personnel to enable them to breathe more easily.

We can help to promote clean air by not lighting too many fires. Burning waste material on our properties should be a last resort. There are other ways of getting rid of household and yard waste without lighting a fire. The solid waste management programme extends to almost every area in SVG. It would not be difficult to find out the days when the truck comes into one’s area. Dead plants and leaves could be placed in a compost heap. The manure that is obtained from it could be used for vegetable or flower gardens. It could be given or sold to others in the community. Coconut husks are no longer dumped; the manure obtained is sold on the local market.

Do your part; do not cause smoke. If the stuff you burn is not properly dried the smoke would be even denser. Remember you would be either making your neighbours prisoners in their own home or causing them to find refuge elsewhere.

• Ada Johnson is a solicitor and barrister-at-law.
E-mail address is: exploringthelaw@yahoo.com

  • 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