Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

Environmentalist Diana McCaulay says residents affected by the smoke from the Riverton Landfill could make a case for infringement of their constitutional rights and therefore should approach the Public Defender, Earl Witter, to determine whether they could get legal redress from the agency with responsibility for the landfill.

Ms. McCaulay, noting that the Riverton smoke situation was a human rights issue, said the affected communities should make an effort to get legal remedy.

According to the environmentalist, the National Environment and Planning Agency and the Ministry of Health have a duty to do whatever is necessary to safeguard Jamaicans against pollutants and other environmental hazards arising from the inability of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to effectively monitor and prevent fires at the landfill.

However, she said public agencies do not act against each other, hence the smoke problem at the Riverton Landfill would continue to be a serious health hazard.

On numerous occasions last year, fire was ignited at the landfill, causing a blanket of smoke extending over a number of communities in the Kingston 20 area and other locations in and outside the Corporate Area.

The latest incident, which has blanketed sections of the Corporate Area with thick smoke since last Thursday, has again triggered severe respiratory problems among scores of residents, particularly those with sinusitis and asthmatic ailments.

The Gleaner carried out an informal survey of residents in communities such as Washington Gardens, Duhaney Park and Patrick City and found that many were suffering since the latest smoke nuisance which has forced some to dig deep into their pockets to pay medical bills.

A serious health hazard

A medical practitioner at the Alma Jones Medical Complex on Hagley Park Road told The Gleaner that a number of persons with respiratory problems visited his office yesterday for examination as a result of the heavy smoke, which covered their communities. Stressing that it was a serious health hazard, the medical practitioner urged the authorities to address the problem as a matter of urgency.

Meanwhile, Director of Landfill Development and Special Projects at the NSWMA, Rachel Allen said the smoke at the landfill would be put out by tomorrow.

She said the NSWMA's appeal for more equipment to help put out the smoke was answered by a number of persons. "We are moving in at a much faster rate and you can see the result from the dissipation of the smoke," she added.

Ms. Allen pointed out that since the agency had introduced a contingency plan in mid-2006, the frequency of fires at the landfill had been reduced.

Asked what measures the agency would put in place to prevent a recurrence, Ms. Allen said security had been hired to patrol the landfill, but explained that the dump was located on 60 acres of land and it was virtually impossible to prevent access from the Ferry and Caymanas sections. She said the agency was considering the installation of security cameras.