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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 For years now, the Democratic National Alliance has called for greater regulation of the New Providence Landfill. For years, we have agitated on behalf of residents in the surrounding areas, whose quality of life has been significantly diminished by the smoke and fumes which emanate from the dump on a regular basis. Sadly, our calls for greater oversight have fallen on deaf ears and in the face of government inaction the situation at the dump has gone from bad to worse.
According to published media reports, investigations into the improper disposal of biohazardous material has found that blood samples, medical waste and even the private medical records of Bahamians were found at the dump. Following the release of the investigations findings, the PHA has promised to implement improved measures to ensure the proper disposal of such waste and while this is certainly a step in the right direction it does not go nearly far enough in addressing the concerns arising from this news. Not only have Bahamians been put at physical risk because of the improper disposal of such waste but the private medical information of Bahamians has ended up in the hands of non-medical professionals.
The incident once again raises concerns about the level of oversight at the country’s primary public healthcare facility and at the New Providence landfill. Bahamians will remember that just last year millions of dollars in prescription medication was recorded missing from the hospital, now, several months and several reported investigations later, no one has been brought to account. Meanwhile at the dump, supposed remediation efforts to curb
consistent fires and other issues have yet to yield results and plans to upgrade the facility have been tainted by the now infamous LOI scandal.
In interviews with the press, Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez attributed the error to a mix-up involving external companies contracted to collect such materials from the hospital, and expressed satisfaction at the proposed measures to keep such occurrences from happening again. Unfortunately, history has proven that this administration cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of Bahamian lives and as a result, the minister’s satisfaction is simply not enough!
In the interest of accountability, the Democratic National Alliance calls for the PHA and the Ministry of Health to detail its plan of action and report to the public on when each step is taken to ensure that these plans do not also fall victim to the lack of follow through which this government has become known for. In addition to the measures already proposed, tests must be conducted at the landfill to ensure that the biohazardous material has not impacted the soil or water table in the area and furthermore IMMEDIATE steps must be taken to finally correct the myriad of problems at the dump.
The DNA has created an effective and immediately implementable plan for a waste to energy facility that would not only address concerns at the landfill but also act as an alternative energy source to power thousands of Bahamian homes and businesses; and through public/private sector partnership model, ensure Bahamian ownership in the project as well. We cannot and must not allow such “mix-ups” to endanger the lives of our people or hinder our progress.
Branville McCartney
DNA Leader
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