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Woodworking, pig rearing businesses stir up trouble at Good hope
– residents call for urgent EPA intervention
The operations of two business entities on the Good Hope Public Road have led to calls from residents in the vicinity for the urgent intervention of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The issues are dust pollution caused by a woodworking concern and the hazard posed by the rearing of swine by another businessman in close proximity.
The dust emanating from this sawmilling establishment is cause for concern
But the businessmen are insisting that they are only trying to make a living and develop their businesses.
Christopher Singh, whose house at Lot B, Good Hope Public Road is completely surrounded by the business concerns, told this newspaper that for the past three years he has been suffering from dust pollution since the woodworking establishment began operating on the western side of his house.
He told this newspaper that he had approached the owner of the establishment and the man had promised to make every effort to minimize the pollution.
When the situation continued Singh again approached the owner but this time his complaints were dismissed, prompting Singh and other residents to seek the intervention of the EPA.
This newspaper understands that the EPA had visited the location in 2006 and spoke to the owner of the woodworking establishment.
But according to Singh, the situation was further compounded by the setting up of a pig-rearing facility on the eastern side of his house.
The EPA was also apprised of this activity this year, prompting three visits from the agency so far for 2009.
But still the activities continue, much to the annoyance of the nearby residents, including a private school which was forced to relocate.
“When the EPA people left, they (businessmen) cursed me out. I went to the police and reported the matter,” Singh told Kaieteur News.
In an effort to solve the problem, the woodworking establishment has been taking the excess sawdust which is piled up behind the establishment to the pig rearing facility.
This move is also annoying the residents since they claim that the dust becomes unbearable when it is being taken to the other facility.
But according to Sarwant Tapsie owner of the Kishun’s Aluminum Window Factory and who runs the swine rearing business, the taking of the sawdust to his property is all in an effort to prevent his business from flooding.
“Since I bought this place last year we have tremendous flood here from time to time..I never received any assistance here at Good Hope. I does see the Ministry of Agriculture and the ministers pass in their vehicles and never come here to ask me about my losses,” Tapsie told this newspaper.
He stated that during the last flood his pigs were on the road and he suffered severe losses.
“I didn’t want them to be there but I had no choice,” he added.
“I have to loose the pigs because I can’t fence my place, my pigs are stolen, some died by accident and I had to pay $400,000 to dig the drains at my business between me and the Good Hope Crematorium,” he explained.
He stated that he had asked the owner of the woodworking establishment fill his land with the shaving from the wood.
“I would also fill my land with sand …my neighbour who is complaining about the dust he spent all his life overseas and now he return here and want to make people’s lives miserable. I have 27 employees and we are providing employment for people… The government has to look that we are creating jobs for people and they should help us to drain the land and help us,” Tapsie stated.
Pandit Tiwari who owns the sawmilling establishment said that the sawdust doesn’t really affect people and his business was approved by the EPA and the Forestry Commission.
He too is using the argument that he employs over 20 people at his business.
But these arguments have not been convincing to the nearby residents.
Christopher Singh firmly believes that the EPA should not have granted permission for the establishment of such businesses in the area.
“Toolsie Persaud and Barama have sawmilling businesses and they are not operating where people live and could be affected. These people don’t live here, they only have their businesses here. When they lock up and go home in the afternoon, it is we the residents who have to put up with the dust and the smell of pigs,” Singh stated.
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