I am a resident of Cable Beach suffering from very bad air polution in my area. Mostly smoke from the dump which not only is unpleasant but is causing my family and neighbors some bad respiratory problems. My wife who has been staying at home more often these days has developed a cough that just won't leave her. Not to mention the death of my neighbor's mother who had asthma but died a couple of months ago suddenly from complications. I highly suspect it has to do with this smoke invading us every day from the dump. Has the Ministry of Health gotten any reports on this problem yet? This is precisely the type of serious health issues that should be a priority for the Ministry of Health. If there are others who read this and agree, please post your comments. My next step is to contact them about this and file my complaints.

I am a resident of Cable Beach suffering from very bad air polution in my area. Mostly smoke from the dump which not only is unpleasant but is causing my family and neighbors some bad respiratory problems. My wife who has been staying at home more often these days has developed a cough that just won't leave her. Not to mention the death of my neighbor's mother who had asthma but died a couple of months ago suddenly from complications. I highly suspect it has to do with this smoke invading us every day from the dump. Has the Ministry of Health gotten any reports on this problem yet? This is precisely the type of serious health issues that should be a priority for the Ministry of Health. If there are others who read this and agree, please post your comments. My next step is to contact them about this and file my complaints.

Thank you so much Bahamex for offering to do something about this problem. You might want to contact the people who are getting a petition signed about the fumes from a cement plant at Arawak Cay (see front page article by Robert Bain in The Tribune a couple of days ago). They say the fumes affect people as far as The Grove, but we have also experienced similar fumes in Cable Beach (as well as the dump smoke). These are like burning rubber and some kind of "gasey" smell.

I really sympathize with your wife and hope that she will soon be able to enhale clean air all the time, in order to get better. I was also saddened to hear about your neighbour's mother.

I've heard it's really bad in the Stapleton Gardens area. Perhaps we can hear from more residents who are suffering from these dangerous emissions?

Thank you Bahamas Writer for your sympathy and the info about the petition.

well i just drove up and down looking for who was burning bush around here, found the general area, fox hill/eastern rd corner, and reported it to the police, lets see what happens. This is the same house been burning bush for a few days now, had to close windows every night, now suffering with bronchitis!

I am a resident of Cable Beach suffering from very bad air polution in my area. Mostly smoke from the dump which not only is unpleasant but is causing my family and neighbors some bad respiratory problems. My wife who has been staying at home more often these days has developed a cough that just won't leave her. Not to mention the death of my neighbor's mother who had asthma but died a couple of months ago suddenly from complications. I highly suspect it has to do with this smoke invading us every day from the dump. Has the Ministry of Health gotten any reports on this problem yet? This is precisely the type of serious health issues that should be a priority for the Ministry of Health. If there are others who read this and agree, please post your comments. My next step is to contact them about this and file my complaints.

At last! Our voices are no longer cries in the wilderness! See page 2 of today’s Tribune (The Tribune, Nassau, Bahamas - Thursday, April 15, 2004). Headlines – “Neighbours blame serious health problems on Harrold Road dump”. The article mentions “the dump problem has now become a topic for discussion on the Bahamas Issues website, where one family is complaining of chronic respiratory problems caused by smoke.”

The Tribune dedicated almost half a page to this problem. I hope more people will now be awakened to this serious health hazard and that government will start working more vigorously on a solution.

about time, I think if more people complained then they would be forced to fix this problem faster, and fix other illegal bush/garbage burning.

People who burn their bush/garbage should be treated like common criminals and dragged off to Fox Hill! Cause if they hang around, dont let me get my hands on their pathetic excuse of a human! They have no manners, no respect for anyone else, no care for anyone else, they dont care if they kill anyone else, they should be treated like murderers and the low down Sons of b######s that they are!!!

http://www.iadb.org/exr/doc98/pro/esir-bh0008.htm

Read this and then also see the other posting concerning dumping. There I posted many websites concerning ways of eliminating and becoming more aware. Perhaps Bahamas do not have enough contractors to handle the load??? there are ways of dealing with all of the debris though. could be a lucrative business venture for someone. And keep in mind again, action is needed with the awareness. Stiff fines and penalities should come to anyone seen dumping or disposing illegally.
One thing that I do in my community is take a trash bag/bags with me when I go for a walk and pick up the trash along the way and dispose of it properly. Of course you might get stares in the beginning but if you make people aware of what you are doing it for and enlist their assistance you have the opportunity to educate and help your environment.

Not only get a petition signing going on but actually get out there with other community members and set a 'Clean the neighborhood day'!!! Contact your waste management and have them to set up a disposal area for you or have a truck available for what you gather.

Ejluv,
Thank you for posting that very informative web site about the waste management study for the Bahamas and thanks to the person who made my concerns be seen in the newspaper. I finally got a copy of Thursday's Tribune and was very happy to see that this forum does work.
I think you have very good and positive ideas we could take into action in our beloved country.
Thanks again.

Today, the 22nd of April, is Green Earth day! What a fine day to be out in your communities helping your environment and making others around you aware that it is all of your responsibilities to protect your surroundings and environment! Oh how I wish that I was there with you for in my heart and soul I am with you. I do plan on returning sometime this year around the last part of September or first part of October. Being the mother of three grown children I figured once I got them all raised and out of the house that it would free me to follow my heart back to Bahamas. Lo and behold, they start having these grandchildren! My son called me just a half hour ago to inform me that my daughter-in-law and him are at the hospital having my fifth grandbaby! Then, in August, my daughter will give birth to a boy which will make me a half dozen total! I have devoted my life to raising them and now those grandbabies keep coming! I have put my foot down though now. No more grandbabies til MeMaw has time for herself! <smiling>. Take care my Beloved Bahamas!