Skip to main content

September 12 ,2020

Source

Dear Editor,

Another crop, another suffering! Since the beginning of the new crop (grinding) at Uitvlugt Estate, we the residents are suffering tremendously from pollution coming from the chimneys.  The black dust is creating serious problems; your house has to be closed or else everything is covered with dust. You cannot eat properly because as you eat the dust settles in your plate and in your water. You have to inhale the dust, everyone, babies, elderly, sick, strong, pregnant. When you wash clothes and hang them out to dry the dust changes the colour to black; nothing can be left outside. Your floor has to be cleaned regularly or else you cannot walk. Everything is affected by this black dust that comes out from the chimneys.

This problem started when the brilliant officials, managers, engineers and directors decided to cut the length of the chimneys unconcerned about the inconvenience and hardship the people will face and also additional financial burden. I have been told that the dust affects residents as far as Leguan island. This is a nuisance to us and no one from GuySuCo cares. This matter was raised many times with workers’ representatives and other estate officials yet nothing has been done. Earlier this year a letter was sent to the estate manager requesting a meeting to discuss matters in relation to this problem and other issues and we were not even acknowledged. Can you imagine going out with good clothes and dust covering you. Can the relevant authorities: Ministry of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, GuySuCo directors, union officials and all who care and are concerned about the well-being of the citizens of this community and surrounding areas help to fix this problem?

As human beings we must also be human.

Yours faithfully,

Jake Mangal

Replies sorted oldest to newest

This problem also occured on the sugar estates in the 1960s, when the chimneys were shorter. Many tall brick chimneys were removed and metal ones installed. Effective management should know this is a problem with shorter chimneys. But since GUYSUCO has gone to the dogs, no one seems to be in charge, with adequate experience. 

The  PPP wants to restore the non-working factories, but part of their evaluation should be how the workers are treated, at home and at work.   

Tola

Uitvlugt chimney has been the same height for over 50 years, no adjustment was made. At one time there were two stacks and many years ago one was removed.

 The problem is the burning of cane fields to get rid of the excess foliage and to scare off the wild animals and reptiles. Too many houses are located too close to the cane fields so when they burn the fields the smoke and ashes would fly all over the place at far distances.

 I know who is Jake Mangal, he lives in Ocean View , Uitvlugt, this is a very old problem, is not the chimney problem. 

K

THE PROBLEM: BURNING

HEALTH IMPACTS

Sugarcane burning emissions have a negative impact on public health in areas downwind of the fields. Research evaluating the impact of sugarcane burning on public health has consistently shown a direct or indirect effect on two domains: cancer and respiratory disease. The effects were noticeably pronounced in children and the elderly.

First, sugar field burning contributes to particulate matter pollution. Particle pollution β€” especially fine particles β€” contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing. Source: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution

Businessman Coughing with Flu

In addition, in 2010, researchers from the University of Florida conducted a study sponsored by the Palm Beach County Health Department to determine emission factors for various toxins coming from pre-harvest sugar cane burning and identified contaminants on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air pollutant list. Emissions factors were determined for a number of harmful air pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbonyl and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as fine particle particulates (PM2.5, or particulates with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) in a combustion chamber. The researchers detected hazardous air pollutants the EPA is required to regulate, including naphthalene, formaldehyde, benzene and styrene. These toxins can cause impacts ranging from drowsiness and headaches to neurological and liver damage. Source: http://lasher.ouhsc.edu/paper/SugarcaneAE.pdf 

The medical research to date paints a compelling picture. Please contact us to request full texts:

December 2016 – AGRICULTURAL FIRES AND INFANT HEALTH

November 2016 – Particulate matter produced during commercial sugarcane harvesting and processing: A respiratory health hazard?

April 2016 – Black Carbon and Particulate Organic Toxics Emitted by Sugarcane Burning in Veracruz, MΓ©xico

October 2015 – Association between sugar cane burning and acute respiratory illness on the island of Maui

http://stopsugarburning.org/the-problem/

 

Mitwah

Since the beginning of burning sugar cane before cutting in Guyana, this issue has not been addressed and workers, including their families suffered in ignorance, with many health issues.

Also, GAWU a PPP supported union failed the workers many times. When a vehicle is supposed to remain  near the field workers for emergencies. But management had other priorities and workers died from their injuries in the field, when an emergency vehicle was not available.   

Tola
Last edited by Tola
@Ramakant-P posted:

That was Desmond Hoyte.  You are lying through your teeth. 

 

You are lying thru your gums.

Jagdeo, who served as President from 1999 to 2011, told the National Assembly on Friday that it was approximately 55 percent of state forest cover that was in fact allocated by his party.
β€œThe fact is that about fifty-five per cent of the state forest has been given out so far in our history. It’s about seven million hectares out of 12.5 million hectares.”
So what is the truth?

Jagdeo gave away the Forests to China.

Mitwah
Last edited by Mitwah
@Mitwah posted:

You are lying thru your gums.

Jagdeo, who served as President from 1999 to 2011, told the National Assembly on Friday that it was approximately 55 percent of state forest cover that was in fact allocated by his party.
β€œThe fact is that about fifty-five per cent of the state forest has been given out so far in our history. It’s about seven million hectares out of 12.5 million hectares.”
So what is the truth?

Jagdeo gave away the Forests to China.

So where is the forest now and how much raw ore is being taken out of the ground. The forest itself is dying and cannot sustain itself unless the PPP fulfill their election promise.

It was desmond Hoyte who negotiate the deal with the Chinese when he allegedly implements the Economic recovery after Burnham and Hoyte bankrupted the country.

The PPP always has to bail out the PNC.   Maybe you prefer that the PPP should do nothing like the PNC in the last 5 years.

R

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×