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
July 8, 2011

Raise the Environmental standards

I think we are still in denial about the nature of our environmental problem because we have clear skies and brilliant sunshine. We overlook the fact that there are indeed invisible tiny particles in the air that eventually reach our lungs. Proof of the presence of these tiny particles in the air can be seen in the dirty sooty water that comes out of the curtains that we take down to wash.{{more}}

Big country problem

Our desire to make a living and to do so at any cost leads us into practices that are detrimental to our health. We believe that smoke in the atmosphere is a “big country” problem and that it doesn’t concern us because we do not have big industries emitting volumes of smoke. Contrary to this mode of thinking, we have a serious problem, and we are breathing into our lungs contaminated air. I point not only to the fire that we burn but also to the vehicles that spew out black smoke into the atmosphere.

Black smoke on the street

Yes, if you are concerned about the pollution, then you would need to look at those vehicles, especially the vans that spew black smoke into our atmosphere. These are vehicles which did not make the standards in the countries of origin, and rather than fixing the problem the vehicles are offered for sale and grabbed by third world countries like SVG where standards are not strictly observed. I say this because I see many vehicles on the streets spewing black smoke. The soot sometimes sticks on to the vehicle itself and gives it an untidy faded look. There are far too many of these vehicles on the road and the owners/drivers are going about their business unconcerned about the pollution and the damage to the human lungs. We appear to be casting a blind eye to the problem? Or do we feel that the problem would just go away as the dust appears to fade into thin air. Surely this problem can go away if we do not buy defective vehicles. New buyers must be alert. They must have an eye for this problem when they test drive the vehicle. I know that the price may be attractive, but I don’t think that it is worth creating island wide respiratory problems.

Respect our neighbours

One reader told me of his woes with neighbours who burn toxic material, and including materials such as plastic bottles in the neighbourhood. According to his account, the neighbour thinks he has a right to burn what ever he wants on his property. No thought to the fact that he cannot hold the smoke to his property. This smacks of willful behavior because I know that there is an island wide system of collection of garbage and it makes me wonder if this is some form of harassment. Because I do not think the garbage collectors have refused any items except perhaps with that of grass and tree branches. If that behavior is willful, then there would be a pay back time, and I urge you not to do it because you were taught to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We have seen the thousands of cars that were carried along by the tsunami in Japan. The nuclear plants were damaged and radio active material escaped. Were these vehicle contaminated and would these vehicles find their way to SVG? Does our poverty dictate that we accept items that are sub-standard and which interfere with our neighbour’s peace and happiness?

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

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    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...

    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