"It's Like Living in Montserrat,"
Say SSMC's Neighbors
Printed in The Observer, October
20, 1996
esidents in Shadwell, College Housing
and Taylor's Range have complained for years about the air pollution from SSMC's
smokestacks. Concerns have been raised by individual citizens and by the medical
profession. At the Labour Party's convention last May, Constituency #1 introduced
a resolution calling for "steps to be taken to control the pollution emitting
from the Sugar Factory." Perhaps the fact that it's a seasonal problem and
the health effects haven't been "proven" explain why it hasn't received
adequate attention.
One resident of the affected area said "it's like living in Montserrat.
You wake up with carbon smudges on your sheets and ash in your house."
One local doctor commented, "during the season we get the impression
that there is a much higher incidence of asthma and people with asthma have
it much worse during that time." Pediatrician Dr. Patrick Martin reported
that he has "advised people who live in the area who have respiratory
problems to move." Although there has been discussion among local doctors
of implementing a scientific study of the effects, nothing has been undertaken.
Some of those who live in the area seem to accept the ash as part of life,
while others continue to feel that more must be done to protect them.
Several people familiar with SSMC's operation explained that the tower used
to be much taller, perhaps three times its current height. At that time
the winds carried the particulates, which are created by the burning of
bagasse to fuel the boilers, over the residential areas and off to the sea.
The tower has degraded and become shorter, the problem has grown increasingly
severe. One person reported that a 1974 earthquake significantly damaged
the smokestack. Despite repeated inquiries over a two month period, SSMC
has yet to provide specific details about the tower's original height and
its shrinking size over the years.
Dwyer Astaphan, Minister of the Environment has spoken with SSMC General
Manager Joseph Alfred about the environmental impact of the emissions. Minister
of Health and Women's Affairs Dr. Asim Martin said that his Ministry is
also concerned and is "in contact with the Ministry of Environment
on the issue."
Alfred says "we are not insensitive to the problem," though no
clear plan has been put in place to remedy the situation. He revealed to
The Observer that two sets of cyclones in the chimney do reduce the particulates,
but this has not silenced the complaints of area residents. SSMC hopes to
budget $1.7 million in the 1997 budget to install scrubbers which should
significantly reduce the problem. Finding the money to pay for the project,
however, will not be easy.
