Minister within the Ministry of Communities (with responsibility for Housing) Annette Ferguson on July 18, 2019, met with residents of a section of Great Diamond who had lodged complaints about pollution emanating from the nearby Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) Biomethanation plant.
According to a joint press release yesterday from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and DDL, the Minister and her team of officials from the CH&PA, including its Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul and Remington Nelson, Technical Assistant to the Minister, visited the East Bank Demerara area at the invitation of DDL.
Prior to visiting the residents, the release said that Ferguson and her team met representatives of DDL, headed by its Executive Chairman, Komal Samaroo and including directors Lance Tyrell, Bert Carter, Harryram Parmesar, Rudy Collins, Shaun Caleb and Government Affairs Advisor, Wesley Kirton.
The release said that the residents, a majority of whom are squatters, have been complaining about the impact of DDL’s operations on their quality of life and had recently intensified their protests by engaging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The release added that some of the residents had their structures “regularised” some years ago although the area is zoned for industrial activity and not for residential purposes.
“This government wants to ensure that you live in conditions that are designed for you to enjoy proper housing and a good quality of life. President (David) Granger has made it clear that no Guyanese should be living in ‘shanties, slums and squatter settlement’ conditions and we are committed to ensuring that such living conditions are brought to an end,” Ferguson told the residents gathered.
Arising out of Ferguson’s visit, the release said that it was decided that the CH&PA will begin preliminary work during the coming week. The work, inclusive of a review of the cadastral plan of the area, is expected to be finished in time for a community meeting with the residents at the end of August. Teams from both CH&PA and DDL will participate in that meeting, the release added.
Ferguson was the second minister to visit the residents in less than a week, following outreaches by both the residents and DDL to Government seeking a lasting solution to the dilemma facing the community. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and a team from his ministry along with DDL Chairman, Samaroo, met with the residents on Thursday, July 11, 2019.
The release said that DDL has pledged its commitment to working with Government and the residents to find a permanent solution to their predicament and to ensure that they have access to improved living conditions. In June, the EPA shut the biomethanation plant after complaints by residents of wastewater from the plant constantly invading their yards and the roadways.
Speaking to Stabroek News then, head of the EPA Dr Vincent Adams said that he was told about the issues several days before and subsequently sent officers to investigate. After the investigation, they verified that there were violations of safe environmental practices as waste was leaking and running through areas where persons live.
Adams said that he immediately issued a letter directing that the company cease operation of the plant until they could determine a path forward to correct the situation.
He said that based on what he has seen, it is a clear violation with regards to residents’ health and the environment and that will not be tolerated by the agency, hence the order to shut down the plant.
“Inasmuch as the EPA encourages business development, we will not allow business interests to [have] a higher priority than people’s health and the environment,” Adams said.
Last week, Stabroek News reported that DDL will be establishing an environmental management department within the company and a Canadian consultancy firm and other personnel have been hired to assist with the process. Adams made this disclosure to Stabroek News and lauded the development.
“Following the complaints to the agency and our subsequent visits to the site and meeting with the company, it was found that they are operating about 10 facilities that should have had 10 individual permits but they did not have these,” Adams told Stabroek News in an interview.
“The EPA has to absorb some of that blame…but the company decided they will establish an environmental management department to focus on, well, environmental issues. They brought in a Canadian consultant to help with this process, they are looking at the best available technology and best qualified personnel to deal with these issues,” he added.
