Dear Editor,
I live on the western side of a neighbour who has been operating a spray-painting workshop for nearly a year. Whenever he sprays the fumes are blown across my residence and are affecting my family. Moreover, these fumes contain some deadly carcinogens which cause cancer.
This matter is engaging the attention of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who visited a few times to monitor the operation, I received a copy of one piece of correspondence from the EPA, and the owner received a copy also. I also submitted photographs of the spraying. I contacted the Director of the EPA a few times and he said this takes time because the agency is advising the operator how to make his workshop compliant. My response was that by the time he complies my family would die.
In addition I reported the matter a few times to the NDC but action from them is not forthcoming. One of the councillors (who sought our votes in the recent local government election) is advising the operator how to proceed although he is not affected. It is surprising that the councillor who is representing his constituents on the council is not aware of the dangers of the fumes.
The laws that govern this type of operation need to be amended so that any operator who wants to do spray-painting should be make his business compliant before he is issued with a licence.
Yours faithfully,
B Indarjeet
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Indarjit Ramdass, for any comment he might wish to make.
