After several warnings, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined a Pomeroon coconut company $1 million for its dumping of shells and husks into tributaries of the Pomeroon River.
The EPA has also been given an assurance by “Fat Boy Coconut Ventures,” which is managed by the Alfro Alphonso & Sons Enterprises, of mechanisms being put in place by the company to recycle the shells. The company has since brought in machinery to begin the process by the start of August.
“Yes, it true, the company has been fined $1 million for its dumping of about 15,000 coconut shells into the canals that flow into the Pomeroon River,” EPA Executive Director Dr. Vincent Adams told Sunday Stabroek when contacted.
“We had a meeting with Alphonso’s company a couple of weeks ago and we explained to them that this here has been an issue ongoing for over a couple of years, without solution and after our last investigation the fine would be instituted. They were very forthcoming, saying yes they understand and so and have agreed to pay that fine and we gave them 30 days, which expires at the end of July, to obtain their permit. But as a requirement, they have to demonstrate that they have environmentally sound measures to dispose of the shells or recycle them,” he further explained.
Residents of communities along the Pomeroon River have bemoaned the daily dumping of the shells and the husks into the tributaries near to the company’s operations over the past two years.
Some have said that not only do the shells and husks create a flood risk, they also pose a potential hazard for those travelling on the river, especially at nights. This is because the shells can be caught in the motors of their boats, which may cause them to capsize.
Adams explained that after receiving complaints, officers of the EPA visited the area and it was based on their findings that the fine was instituted.
“My officers visited and the last visit was on March 18th of 2019. It was as a result of that visit that the fine was instituted and after continued correspondence that they came in and we had this meeting. They have agreed to stop dumping in the canals that empty into the Pomeroon River. They have also said that they had a plan for recycling most of the coconut material. They have shown us a plan in moving forward, which is basically getting equipment to do it. They are in the process of getting and installing the equipment and they are expected to do that by the end of this month,” he added.
Andron Alphonso, of Alfro Alphonso & Sons Enterprises, told Sunday Stabroek that his company has accepted the fine and will be in full compliance in the timeframe stipulated by the EPA.
While confirming that “a payment plan” was being worked out for the payment of the fine, Alphonso said that he wanted to give all the facts but did not have the documents at hand. He asked that this newspaper return a call to him before lunch on Friday but several calls to his number rang out and later voicemail messages stated that the phone was turned off.
Adams confirmed the company’s commitments and he said that his agency is eager to assist as the company moves to recycle the shells and husks.
“They have indeed committed to a plan to stop dumping the shells. We pointed out to them that it can cause a host of problems, including floating atop the river and poses a risk to river transport. That is a very dangerous practice. Not only that but after a while these shells sink to the bottom and raise the floor of the canals, causing the water to flood and this poses a lot of problems for farmers in the areas and along the river. I received a complaint from a man who had to shut down his operations because of flooding. He was upstream of them. It wasn’t the best thing for his coconuts to grow,” Adams said.
While he believes that the company will comply and undertake all the plans for recycling promised, Adams warned that if there is failure to comply, his agency will take all necessary measures “…failing which, we will have to take the next step to go through the legal process. If they do not comply, which I don’t at all expect them not to, we will have to pursue whatever avenue to ensure that they comply.”
“But we have been in steady communication with them and had talks up to yesterday. It is unfortunate that we have to get to this point after years but I am happy that we are at a point where we can fix the problem. They sent in their permit application in June, which we are processing right now, and one of the conditions is that they stop the dumping by the end of this month and I believe they will,” he added.
