Gov’t accuses ‘Willy T’ of illegal waste disposal
![Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkley (left), in response to a question by Fifth District Representative Hon Delores Christopher (right) in the 2017 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) meeting of the House of Assembly, said it was brought to the attention of the National Parks Trust that Willy T was dumping illegally and when confronted [Willy T] ‘admitted to their wrongdoing.’ Photo: VINO/File](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_b_berkley.jpg)
Some years ago it was one of the most popular places to visit as tourists and some brave locals were known to have jumped off the boat into the sea water naked.
At the 2017 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) meeting of the House of Assembly, Fifth District Representative Hon Delores Christopher asked “if businesses, such as the Willy T, have to provide National Parks Trust and or Solid Waste Department on the manner in which their waste is disposed of.”
Illegal dumping by Will T- Smith-Berkley
In answering the question, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkley told the body that it was brought to the attention of the Trust and when confronted [Willy T] “admitted to their wrongdoing.” Mr Smith-Berkley further stated that the Manager has since made progress and stated that the Conservation and Fisheries Department made there three (3) to four (4) trips to review progress.
However, he did not reveal in his testimony what was being dumped illegally and for how long such practice was going on and where it was being disposed.
At the time of the enquiry, the National Parks Trust (NPT) and its line head, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, were before the Committee testifying to justify their grant from government. The NPT is a statutory body and has a Board of Directors.
Too many illegal moorings at sea
There were also other discussions about the challenges generally with illegal moorings in the waters of the VI and what the National Parks Trust, whose portfolio it is to deal with such, will do about it.
The Acting Director of the NPT, Linda Varlack, stated to the SFC that once illegal moorings are discovered “a notice will be affixed on the mooring which will give a time frame for removal or application for a license.”
When asked by Hon Christopher if the illegal moorings could be removed, Ms Varlack answered “yes.”
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27 Responses to “Gov’t accuses ‘Willy T’ of illegal waste disposal”
They have a septic treatment system in the bottom of the boat. Like another poster said I would be more worried about the raw sewage going into the sea all around the island, the toxic trash that is burnt, the trucks with filthy exhausts that drop out cancer causing heavy metals on a HUGE basis. PRiorties.....
knocked it over is all. a bunch of fuss over nothing.