THE EDITOR, Sir:
FOR DAYS now the Riverton City dump has been burning. The smoke has become more than a nuisance and is now affecting the health of residents around the area, in Portmore, Plantation Heights, Queen and Forest hills.
While we understand that the dump is often lit by vandals, we are left wondering how and why nothing more permanent has been done to curtail this situation? Or why the response of the Solid Waste Management Authority has been so slow and lackadaisical.
Citizens are becoming ill. They will have to pay repeatedly for doctor bills and medications to get past this latest burning, which by far is the worst. There are schools in the area. There are businesses in the area. What is to be done about the Riverton dump? Too many are affected for this situation to be left untended.
What is happening with our attorneys? Why has none of them offered to take up the case of the residents who are being sickened by the gray smoke and who, adding insult to injury, have to stand the cost for themselves? Will none of our attorneys look to represent and collect off settlement? Who else can we turn to? Who is to take up this case of wanton disregard and abuse on the citizen's health? What about the Ministry of Health? The environmental agencies? What about the costs to the public health bill over the long term? Isn't this something of concern to a government strapped for cash?
More and more we are seeing in this country that the only time those in esteemed offices get the picture is when it becomes, not a public disgrace, but a cost to their pockets or the roads are blocked and demonstrations conducted. So, will someone advise the citizens of Patrick City and surrounding areas and those who have become ill as a result of this latest burning of the Riverton dump, what they can do to get some recourse and to ensure speedy and proper action in the future? The health of thousands of adults and children is at stake. Are we to continue to bear this burden, getting sicker and sicker by the day?
I am, etc.,
CHARMAINE MORRIS
charmmorris@hotmail.com
