Arthur Green, Gleaner Writer
ST. THOMAS:
THE Public Health Department recently served notice on the St. Thomas Sugar Company, the developers of the Duckenfield Housing Scheme, for serious breaches that could trigger major environmental and health hazards in that community.
This development was revealed during a monthly meeting of the St. Thomas Parish Council last Thursday.
The notice was served because of a contentious issue involving over 50 one- and two-bedroom dwellings which were constructed for the primary purpose of housing sugar workers. The dwellings apparently have no independent toilets and there is an absence of potable water for domestic purposes, endangering the lives of the families residing there.
Chief Public Health Inspector, Charles Lewis told the meeting that his department is expecting some sort of action from the developers to speedily address the issue.
THREE TOILETS
"The three toilets which currently serve a scheme occupied by so many families is woefully inadequate," he said. "Furthermore, occupants must have access to running water, especially since the scheme is a new one and should reflect modern standards of sanitation and health."
The situation has further been compounded, the councillors said, by the fact that the development had not got approval from the relevant regulatory authorities, raising questions about the consequences of such actions.
This development coincides with a visit by Franklyn K. Muchuri, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) specialist, who is in the island to examine safety measures in the nation's sugar factories.
Mr. Muchuri's visit to the island came against the background of a series of fatal accidents in local sugar factories.
The invitation to visit the island was extended by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security after trade union leaders called for a safety audit of local sugar factories.
He met with government officials last week to discuss his preliminary findings.
