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UPDATE: BVIEC workers grateful for Asphalt Plant’s quick response
Contacted today February 12, 2015 the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) workers confirmed that the plant was in operation yesterday afternoon February 11, 2015 and was not emitting the pollutants.
“The Asphalt Plant was on yesterday even and we did not get any fumes at all from [it]. So that means that they fixed the problem on the plant,” said one employee.
According to reports management of the Asphalt Plant had subsequently called the BVIEC workers to confirm their comfort level. “Sometimes it’s good to complain, not just complain but very strong levels of complaints. We are very thankful that they rectified the problem and we are all happy neighbours now,” added another worker of the BVIEC .
Up to press time they said that the plant had not been on for today. Several efforts were made by our news room to secure a comment from the owners of the plant but all to no avail.
See previous article published on February 11, 2015:
BVIEC workers force closure of asphalt plant @ Pockwood Pond
- Say emissions from nearby plant a health hazard
POCKWOOD POND, Tortola, VI – Workers stationed at the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) power generation plant at Pockwood Pond have forced their management to make immediate interventions to quell their alleged suffering experienced as a result of the reported faulty operations of a privately owned asphalt plant that operates in the area.
“This has been going on for years and it's getting worse now because they doing it everyday now when before they used to do it like once every two months and we used to complain and now its getting overbearing now because we getting this stuff that we inhaling and it's burning your nose,” one BVIEC employee told this news site.
The problem stemmed from the heavy dust materials being emitted from the stack of the asphalt plant, which the employees described as sand and tar being literally showered on them on a daily basis.
“Look I have my family and my children to live for and this is killing us out faster, my health comes first, I have to live for my children and if this situation is not dealt with things going to happen,” said one of the obviously disturbed employees.
Photographs shown to this news site gave a clear picture of the situation as thick layers of the byproduct of the asphalt production can be clearly seen covering vehicles, the BVIEC power plant building, the driveway and other parts of the compound.
Staff members said they had to resort to temporary measures of suiting out themselves as if they were doctors dealing with Ebola patients or as if they were chemists working in a cyanide plant. And they did not fail to bring their grievances to their management’s attention.
When contacted, BVIEC Deputy General Manager Mr Henry O. Creque confirmed the plight of their workers at the Pockwood Pond Power Plant site. He said that for the past few days management was bombarded with complaints and took it very seriously as the situation was one that demanded immediate and urgent remedial actions.
Creque added that while they were very concerned about their employee’s health and safety, they were also concerned about their assets as the products emitted from the asphalt plant threatened the power plant also.
“I think it was about two weeks ago we started getting complaints from our staff at the Pockwood Pond Power Station about the debris from the asphalt plant next door going right into the power station and it was making it extremely difficult for them to breathe, they worried about their health, which is a valid concern, and they and management are also concerned about the equipment at Pockwood Pond because that could affect the generating equipment down there,” said Mr Creque.
He said immediate contact was made with the Ministry of Communications and Works because of the fact that they were the ones using asphalt more than any other on the island. “I have to say that each time we have contacted them they have been very responsive. They in turn contacted the owners of the plant and they have switched off the plant and either not use it or use it as little as possible,” Mr Creque further explained.
But even as it was being used as little as possible subsequently, the problem still persisted and, according to acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Mr Anthony S. McMaster, the owners are being held accountable not to ever put the plant on again unless certain remedial actions are taken.
“We did receive a call from the management of BVIEC around mid-morning and as a result of that we touched base with the plant owners and it was agreed to shut down the plant,” said Mr McMaster.
He explained that it was his understanding that one of the motors for the scrubbing unit, which is responsible for cleaning the pollutants out of the smoke, has an issue. “So they have agreed to shut down the plant and have the motor addressed before they restart it. So hopefully the matter has been resolved so we would just monitor it from here and see what is actually taking place.”
“From what I understand, they will have the motor repaired before they use the plant again, that is my understanding so that is what we will be holding at.”
The completion of the Blackburn Highway road works hinges on the very asphalt plant’s ability to provide the product as, according to Mr McMaster, they have been advised that in order to protect and maintain the integrity of the asphalt used on that road they should continue with asphalt from the one plant.
He said that the government’s asphalt plant at Fish Bay is operational but because of the importance of consistency in the quality and type of asphalt they have to complete the road with that from the private asphalt plant they started with.
One of the persons connected to the Pockwood Pond asphalt plant Mr Ashley Ritter said he had no comment when contacted by this news site.
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33 Responses to “UPDATE: BVIEC workers grateful for Asphalt Plant’s quick response”
We in the BVI just know how to whine and nag and make noise.
Even Ashley don't want anything to do with VIP and their esteemed cronies anymore LOL. I heard so but didn't realize it was the god given truth.