BARBADOS' 42nd ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE COLLECTION DETAILS

The Sanitation Service Authority is reminding the public there won’t be a refuse collection on Monday 1^st December 2008 – the Independence Bank Holiday.

Mangrove Pond Landfill will open from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon on that day, but all other disposal sites and the five national cemeteries will be closed this date.

All residents are reminded to freeze any offal from Saturday 29^th November until 6:00 pm before their next scheduled collection.

The SSA thanks Barbados for their co-operation, and we wish everyone a safe and happy Independence weekend.

Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority commissions new tirebaler

Discarded tires on Nevis will soon be put to use thanks to a new Encore Systems Tirebaler at the Long Point Landfill. The US $60, 000 piece of new equipment sponsored by the Canada Fund and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) was just commissioned by Nevisian Minister of Health Hon. Hensley Daniel.

The tirebaler was accessed through a collaborative partnership conceived by the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority with the assistance of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society who contacted the Canada Fund. The Four Seasons Resorts Estates provided transportation and paid the freight from Miami to Nevis.

Minister Daniel referred to the partnership as a move embraced by the NIA, who had endeavoured to marry its resources with that of the community, the corporate community and civic organizations to develop the island.

He said ultimately, all who lived on Nevis should have a solid interest to ensure that the island was esthetically appealing particularly as tourism was a mainstay of the island's economy.

"When we market the country we don't just sell a villa, we sell environment. In selling the environment we need to know that we are selling a safe and secure environment which is healthy.

"So if we are going to continue to make the island attractive to visitors and high end visitors in particular we have to promote this kind of partnership," he said.

The Minister said it was important to bear in mind that the tirebaler came at a time when there was an increase in the number of vehicles on Nevis and the incidence of abandoned tires was up.

He explained that the new equipment which also had the ability to compress plastic and cardboard material would help to eradicate breeding grounds for mosquitoes and also provide the opportunity for the Authority to engage others who were involved in recycling and as such extend the life of the landfill.

Manager of the Authority Ms. Carlyn Lawrence indicated that the need for a tire baler was realized in 2007 but there had been many setbacks. However, the Authority had planned to use the baled tires on local soil erosion projects and also to divert the waste for recycling.

Not withstanding, she described as another excellent benefit, the elimination of a mosquito habitat for breeding because baled tires could not catch water.

Ms. Lawrence thanked all those who made it possible for making the tire baler available to the Authority.

Other remarks came from Executive Director of the NHCS Mr. John Guilbert, General Manager of the Four Seasons Resorts Estates Ms. Martha Isbister and Mr. Dick Charlebois of Encore Systems in Minnesota.

Three tons of trash collected by group "Keep Bermuda Beautiful"in just two days

More than 100 people congregated at 18 points across Bermuda recently, collecting more than three tons of trash dumped on the island.

It was part of a global marine clean up mission coordinated by Ocean Conservancy, which saw close to half a million people take to the oceans and the shores to collect the mess tossed away by members of disposable societies the world over.

The volunteers from environmental organization Keep Bermuda Beautiful were out in force at sites including Jew's Bay, Mangrove Bay and Shelly Bay. As they collected trash they filled out data cards which will continue to be collected after future clean ups until the middle of October to get an idea of what Bermudians are throwing away into the environment and how the island compares to other countries.

Feedback will be given to manufacturers and waste disposal organisations about how their waste is taken care of and how we can find solutions for Bermuda; one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

According to KBB Executive Director Richard Lathan one of the main causes of pollution in Bermuda is the casual throwing away of rubbish by people in the streets and on the beaches. Fly tipping is also a major problem on the island despite a forward-thinking government scheme to collect larger household goods for free.

The fly tipping hotspots in Bermuda include Lodge Point Lane in Somerset, Vesey Street in Devonshire, the railway trail at Southampton and a new site called Aoelia Drive opposite the entrance to Tynes Bay.

Mr. Lathan said that up to 80 per cent of the household goods found by KBB could have been collected through the government scheme but that bizarrely Bermudian people are not taking advantage of it tending to pay private companies to do the work. Mr. Lathan suspects that these very companies might have a hand in the fly tipping itself.

"If you pay to have something removed from your house it might wind up elsewhere or just being dumped back into the environment," he explained. "We have reason to believe that some of these private companies may be involved and we'd like to expose some of them. There are a couple of plans in the works and one suggestion is to video certain sites.

"Another suggestion is changing the way the truckers get paid to take things and deposit things so when they pick it up in order to get paid they have to have a ticket showing that they deposited the stuff at the appropriate places."

Among the initiatives Mr. Lathan would like to see introduced in Bermuda is the enforcement of mandatory recycling across all businesses which are not included in the government's collections.

"Currently they have to pay for their own recycling and businesses are trying to figure out how is it worth it for them which is a legitimate question. If the government says it is mandatory that means government would have to take an active role in assisting."

Mr. Lathan highlighted a lack of dumpsters near the docks to cater for the boating community. Over a six-week period around Cup Match KBB took half a ton of rubbish brought to the shore by boaters who had nowhere else to put it.

KBB plans to help increase awareness about Bermuda's environment through a series of town hall meetings which will take place regularly over coming months.

Mr. Lathan said: "We believe that dialogue is the beginning of awareness and hopefully we can move forward."

The Ministry of Works and Engineering was unavailable for comment as the Bermuda Sun went to press.

Bermudian dive site a shocking mess - journalist helps with marine clean-up

Bermuda Sun journalist and keen diver Sarah Lagan took part in a Marine Clean-up recently, helping that online daily create a new series.

It's an example of how we as a newspaper can provide practical, hands-on help. We plan to highlight 'green' innovations and explain the connection between careful stewardship of our environment and the quality of our lives.

In these worrying economic times, questions about natural resources, the use of fuel and how it affects the price of everything from our breakfast cereal to our daily bus ride, have never been more relevant to ordinary people.

Back in July we launched Going Green, a monthly advertising supplement, to provide a focal point for local firms. We want to bolster that innovation with regular news, business and lifestyle stories that have a strong environmental flavour.

Before I moved to Bermuda in July as a newly qualified scuba diver keen to test new waters I never envisaged going on a dive like the one I did with Keep Bermuda Beautiful on Saturday. Just off the launch ramp at Ship's Wharf in St. David's we met with John Trimingham, owner of Peppercorn Moorings. He generously donates his modest barge, aptly named the Maid of Plywood, for clean up missions on a regular basis.

Climbing aboard I got kitted out in my dive gear, also donated for free by Blue Water Diving, along with KBB executive director Richard Lathan and a second volunteer Ken Robinson. Richard and Ken took the first dive down to get an idea of what was lying on the seabed and what could be brought up.

The sad thing that emerged was that the majority of items down there were too big for us to bring up on the day. But in this ten-minute mapping exercise Richard brought up a large, rusting battery and dumped it on the barge. Keen to get a look at the site myself I jumped into the water and descended around 15 feet to the bottom following behind Ken. Because of the water movement so close to the shore, sand was everywhere and I could barely see my hand in front of my face.

Keeping hold of a line we made our way across the seabed for around 30 feet into the open water before coming across another large battery which we attached to a rope and pulled to the surface. I was quite surprised because apart from the battery and sand it was relatively clear of debris.

It wasn't until we started diving closer to the dock that the true extent of the pollution became clear. We descended back down and within just a small area there were a couple of large powerboat engines and other mechanical equipment, a couple of tyres that were probably used as fenders on a boat and two large barrels one full of concrete previously used as a mooring.

Most of the stuff had either sunken into the sand or was just too heavy to bring up but we did manage to hook up one of the tyres and another battery. I decided to go and explore by myself as close to the dock as I could get and was amazed to see the amount of household trash that had been dumped there.

There was a porcelain toilet, a patio umbrella, cups, plates, bottles all merging into the seabed. I could have spent hours bringing the smaller items up but Richard said he'd take large baskets next time as well as some heavy duty hooks for the larger stuff.

Although we didn't come out of the dive with tons of rubbish I certainly came out with a heavy heart knowing how little regard some people have for their marine environment. I'd like to go along to the next clean up at the site to see the real action.

Wrong Items at Edgecumbe Quarry - CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION WASTE ONLY

The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) is reminding all construction firms there are only two sites for disposing Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste; these materials are only to be sent to either –

Edgecumbe Quarry, Bentley Tenantry, St Philip

OR Parsons Quarry, Foster Hall, St George

The opening hours for the sites are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Mondays through Fridays; after hours or on Sundays please notify the SSA.

The permitted materials for these facilities are as follows –

SOFT STONE

DEMOLISHED BRICKWORK

TREE TRIMMINGS

BRUSH

TOPSOIL

UNBAGGED GRASS (NO PLASTIC ALLOWED)

LOGS

LARGE BOULDERS

Not so long ago, the Authority found old appliances at Edgecumbe which were more appropriate for the Bagatelle Metal Facility, and the Authority alerted the Police to prevent any further instances.

There are signs at both sites indicating trucks must pause and liaise with officers before depositing any material(s).

BERMUDA: Throw your trash out properly, Minister warns

Employees at Bermuda's Ministry of Works and Engineering have expressed concern about the dangers their colleagues are facing due to irresponsible disposal of waste.

Those working in the Solid Waste Section highlighted specific problems such as waste items that damage disposal equipment and residential waste - including animal and even human feces.

The public, haulers and contractors who deliver horticultural waste to the Marsh Folly waste facility have been including hard, sometimes metal objects, which are damaging grinding equipment and even causing injuries to staff, a press release from the Ministry stated.

Residential waste collectors have complained of sharp metal objects, liquids, shards of glass and feces being disposed of improperly.

Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess urged people to dispose of their trash properly.

He said: "We call upon the public to do its part to assist these workers in the discharge of their responsibilities.

"Members of the public will be aware that all of these materials pose threats of injury and infection to our staff."

Information about how and when to dispose of waste is available in the blue "Waste Calendar" and the "What Goes Where" pages of the telephone directory, while the Ministry mails the waste calendar out to homes annually.

Home owners are encouraged to contact our Waste Management Office at 297-7953 if they are unsure about proper disposal procedures.

Meanwhile, Mr. Burgess also announced that the asbestos had been fully removed from the former Club Med building in St. George's.

The waste is now in storage at the Government Quarry.

Kadooment Aftermath – Hard work by SSA Employees & Sensitisation make for cleaner Crop Over

From Friday 1^st August to Sunday 3^rd August, teams of Sanitation workers were busy between 10:00 pm to 5:00 am cleaning litter, while on Grand Kadooment these crews operated from 2:00 pm along the National Stadium to the routes leading towards Spring Garden, ensuring all Crop Over waste was removed.

Party Monarch, Pic O’de Crop Semi-Finals & Finals as well as Cohobblopot & Grand Kadooment generated 92 tonnes of waste – compared with 90 tonnes in 2006 and 112 tonnes last year. This after an awareness campaign with vendors at the Blackrock Polyclinic in late July and an ongoing TV campaign on Channel 8.

More private entities came forward to use the Authority’s commercial services this year, such as the Wet Fete and Ten-To-Ten. Unfortunately, not all concert organisers were as conscientious – nevertheless, alert crews squared off any remains from these events.

Inspections of the routes along Spring Garden Highway and the Blackrock Main Road verified SSA teams did the main body of cleaning by early Tuesday morning, and back-up work was completed when stall owners and operators removed their stalls.

The Authority urges vendors to remember pallets are part of their stall and must be cleared in order to get back their deposit, so let’s all cooperate to keep Barbados clean. {NB - Before & After shots were approx. 5:00 pm & 7:00 am respectively}

Nevis receives new garbage truck from their Social Security Board

Nevis' Ministry of Health was the recipient of a brand new garbage truck, which was funded by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.

The keys to the US$142,000 (EC$384,000) Mack truck, were handed over to Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration Hon. Hensley Daniel by Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence. The important ceremony was held at their Low Ground Landfill late July.

Mr. Daniel said it was no surprise that Social Security engaged the Ministry of Health since its contributions came from workers

“The Ministry of Health has an interest and a responsibility to ensure that workers are healthy so that when workers are healthy they will work and by working they will contribute to Social Security so this is in a way an investment in the workers of the country to ensure that they remain healthy because we want to make sure that garbage is properly disposed off and in addition to that they have an interest in the aesthetic beauty of the country.

“If the country is beautiful the visitors [will] come. The people who work in tourism they will get more work and they will contribute to Social Security. So I want to thank them for being in that philosophical mindset. This is not something that is Social Security over here and health over there but Social Security and Health are intertwined,” he said.

The Minister also made the point that in Third World countries contributions of that nature were often referred to as gifts but they were not because they were derived from workers contributions therefore they should be maintained and should be treated as though they were personal.

Mr. Daniel explained that the Nevis Island Administration through the Ministry of Health did not approach an overseas friendly country for funds to purchase the truck but instead sought to forge a long and fruitful partnership with the Social Security Board.

“What we have done is to seek to build a partnership with Social Security to see if we can do things locally and I am particularly happy that in 1978 when Social Security started I was just about beginning to work with the public service and there was so much opposition to Social Security because nobody wanted their contribution to come out.

“I think more than anything, the institution [Social Security] has demonstrated its commitment to the public. We can look around and see investments in housing, we see investment in education through scholarships and now of course as the Minister of Health, I have to make sure they tip the balance to health as well and so we look forward to a long and productive relationship with Social Security,” he said.

Chairman of the Social Security Board Mr. Halva Hendrickson said the funding came from part of the institution’s annual contribution which was made to both Nevis and St. Kitts in the health services and it was their way of giving back to the people.

Mr. Hendrickson also noted that St. Kitts had faced a similar problem where the garbage trucks had gone bad and private persons had been hired to collect garbage. Nonetheless, he said Nevis was ahead in their request for a new garbage truck.

“In fact in St. Kitts we have a similar problem where our garbage trucks have gone bad and they had to hire some private people but they have not come to us yet but it looks as though Nevis is more on the ball because Nevis is now here [ahead] and they have their garbage truck.

“I suppose what will happen in the end, is that somebody might have to come and say just as Nevis has cleared the way St. Kitts will have to clear the way and follow. So we are very happy to be here and we expect that this truck will be used for the benefit of the people of Nevis,” he said.

Meantime, while she thanked Mr. Daniel and the Social Security board for the new garbage truck, Ms. Carlyn Lawrence Director of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority explained that unlike the previous garbage trucks, the new one had had a greater capacity to meet the needs of a growing island.

“Waste management is a new thing for us on these small islands. It’s a progression into keeping up with the latest technology and the latest equipment available and so we are very happy to have the truck and we want to say thank you and give you our assurance that we will do everything that we can to take good care of it and keep it going for as many years as we can keep it going for.

“We got this truck because we needed the size, the island is growing and there is expansion everyday. [The truck] has the capacity of containing 25 yards of waste [because of its] compaction. So it can clean an entire parish without having to make a second trip. We are going to ensure that responsible people drive it and that we take good care of what has been offered to us,” she said.

The ceremony was chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority Mrs. Joslyn Liburd, Deputy Chairman of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board His Excellency Mr. Steve Rensford, Assistant directors (Nevis) Mr. Elvin Bailey and Mr. Vernel Powell and Members of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority Board Ms. Hope Merchant and Mr. Ron Daniel.

700 SSA workers attend Crop Over picnic at Three Houses Park

The Manager of the Sanitation Service Authority acknowledged the hard work so far this Crop Over put in by SSA employees with a picnic held at Three Houses Park in St Philip – workers enjoyed themselves and believe the event should become an annual occasion.

A deejay with a powerful Hi-Fi had the crowd bobbing with all the latest tunes of the season as well as those from back in the day.

Workers with their families made for 700 people enjoying the festivities.

The SSA’s Manager, Stanton Alleyne, personally spoke with staff to let them know how much they’re appreciated.

It took a mighty rain in the late afternoon to finally thin the crowd, which eventually started drifting home around six in the evening.

The partygoers then made sure all remnants of the day were carefully disposed of as they continue to keep Barbados clean.

FOOD SAFETY A PRIORITY THIS CROP OVER - SSA JOINS WITH BLACKROCK POLYCLINIC TO EDUCATE VENDORS

In preparation for this year’s Crop Over Festival, the Ministry of Health will be continuing its efforts to improve food handling techniques so as to minimise food borne diseases. This will be done through a five day Health Exposition.

 It will come off on the grounds of the Black Rock Polyclinic, from Monday, July 21, to Friday July 25, under the theme ‘Eating at your Festival is Safe’. 

 It is expected that on each day of the Exposition some 60 food handlers will attend the session and they will be issued with permits at the end.

On Monday, July 21; Wednesday, July 23; and Friday, July 25; the sessions start at 6:00 p.m.; while on Tuesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 24, they will start at 5:00 p.m.

Facilitators for the event include representatives from the Fire Service, who will give tips on fire prevention and safety; the Sanitation Service Authority and the Solid Waste Management Unit, who will speak on methods of managing refuse in outdoor catering; and Health Sisters from the polyclinic, who will discuss health issues including first aid and safety.

Environmental Health Officers will focus on food safety and sanitation, through practical displays showcasing equipment used in the food service industry. They will also provide tips on disaster preparedness.

In addition, chefs and stall holders will assist with demonstrations on accurate food preparation, storage and transportation methods.

Persons interested in obtaining further information on the Health Exposition, may contact the Black Rock Polyclinic, at 421-7209, 438-9624 or 425-6950 Ext. 5026, 5034,5035, or 5036. 

PROPER HYGIENE PRACTICES FOR HANDLING FOOD AT ALL TIMES INCL. CROP OVER & KADOOMENT

A valid medical certificate is a must for stall owners and food handlers dealing with the preparation and sale of food at Crop Over events.

This reminder comes from the Chief Environmental Health Officer (Ag), Desmond King, who is also advising individuals that the certificate should be presented on the request of the Environmental Health Officer.

The advice is part of guidelines, developed by the Environmental Health Division to ensure that operators and their assistants maintain proper hygiene practices when serving the public, whether at Bridgetown Market, Cohobblopot, or Kadooment.

When serving food stall owners and assistants must wear head covering or hair restraints; no nail polish should be worn and nails should be trimmed and kept clean and no jewellery should be worn on the hands or around the neck.

Food handlers are also reminded that no sleeveless tops or vests should be worn when preparing or serving food; that light and single coloured shirts, tops or aprons should be worn and smoking is prohibited in food stalls.

The Environmental Health Division is also advising that food handlers be free of infected burns, boils, cuts or respiratory illnesses. They should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly (particularly before beginning work, after handling raw foods & after using the toilet) in order to prevent the contamination of food. Food handlers should use disposable paper towels and never wipe hands on aprons or clothing.

The chewing of gum or eating while preparing or serving food is also prohibited and the Division is suggesting that food handlers refrain from picking the nose, touching pimples and scratching the head or face.

Guidelines for the handling and storage of food should be adhered to at all times during this year’s Crop Over events.

Mr King is warning stall owners and food handlers that they must cooperate fully with the Environmental Health Officer and comply with the Health Services Food Hygiene Regulations (1969 CAP. 44). 

The penalty for violating the Regulations is a fine of $5,000 and, or imprisonment for 12 months.

There are several food handling and storage guidelines, which have been developed by the Environmental Health Division.

Individuals are reminded that they should store all foodstuff and water at least 18 inches from the ground; food and potable water must be stored in clean, covered containers and water storage containers should be fitted with taps.

Raw and prepared foods should be stored properly, for instance in covered containers, and they should be stored separately. Raw meat and meat products must be stored in small parcels.

According to the Division, all potentially hazardous foods including meat, chicken, fish and sausages, must be stored between layers of ice so as to keep the food at or below 40ºF.

There should be a constant supply of ice, and ice used for the storage of meat, fish or drinks, must not be used in the drinks when serving.

In addition, food handlers and assistants should never store or drag ice on the ground. When serving ice, scoops should be used, and the handle must never come in to contact with the ice.

Only wholesome canned foods should be used. Contents should be removed from the can immediately after opening or piercing, particularly in the case of high acid foods, such as fruit juices and sauces. Egg should not be used in batters and fish cake batters should not be stored in large containers (e.g. five gallon pails) but rather in containers small enough to be kept at a temperature of less than 40ºF.

Food handlers should not prepare large amounts of food unless there is provision to keep the food at or above 140º F or below 40ºF. They should use tongs when serving food (hands should not be used to serve food). All equipment and implements should be kept clean and sanitised.

Clean glasses or cups must be picked up by their bases but stall owners should consider the use of disposable cups and plates. Operators are further reminded that they should not touch the food contact surfaces of plates, and forks with their hands and should clean and sanitise knives and other utensils when switching from one product to another (for instance raw chicken to bread) to prevent cross contamination. 

WASTE MANAGEMENT HIGH ON AGENDA OF DAVID THOMPSON REGIME - PLEDGE FROM ENVIRONMENT MINISTER DURING TOUR

Government is currently exploring several options regarding how it can properly manage its solid waste programme. Minister of the Environment, Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, revealed this today after touring B’s Bottle Depot, Cane Garden, St. Thomas, and Ocean Park, Balls Complex, Christ Church.

According to her, this exercise had become necessary since landfill space was becoming limited because of the huge amount of waste generated by householders.

She commended the management of B’s Bottle Deport for “shifting a lot of stuff that is not bio-degradable from our landfill”.

“… those are the kinds of initiative that we want to encourage. Government is also putting some emphasis on innovation that benefits all Barbadians,” the Minister said.

B’s Bottle Depot’s mission is to maximise the diversion of waste from the landfill towards recycling and it collects plastic and glass bottles, cans, metals, vehicle bumpers and discarded batteries.

Meanwhile, Dr. Byer-Suckoo is looking forward to the introduction of the Environmental Management Act, which she said would be very important for Barbados. “We started to review the Act because other environmental issues have come up which would not have been addressed in that original draft. Things like the management of discarded cell phones, batteries, printers and computers.

“We have a lot of new issues to deal with, so we have to make sure that the legislation we bring not only addresses today’s issues, but looks ahead. Any legislation that is passed now must be able to take us into 2025 and beyond,” she stressed.

Turning her attention to Ocean Park, the Minister said there were a lot of children who had no idea of what happened under water and she said that the park offered children an opportunity to develop their awareness so they could have an appreciation for the delicate balance of the ocean.

She described a tour of the Park as educational and a must for school children. 

Sanitation & ICBL host refresher on defensive driving for staff members

The Sanitation Service Authority recently held two seminars for drivers and lorryloaders on how best to take care of the Authority’s new vehicles – this session serving as a follow-up to a similar workshop 18 months ago.

St Sgt Rodney Inniss, Forensic Collision Investigator with the Royal Barbados Police Force, conducted a fascinating presentation on defensive driving with a contingent of SSA staff at the ICBL’s Country Road headquarters. This officer has held similar courses for Rayside Construction, CO Williams Companies, as well as BS & T and other businesses with vehicular fleets.

The Station Sergeant had a detailed presentation touching on many subjects and the audience was very receptive to the officer’s innovative approach. The investigator urged them to plan their routes carefully and to heed all traffic signs, rules and regulations.

The SSA’s Manager, Stanton Alleyne praised staff for their support during the challenging period of June 23 to June 27, he also reminded them of a TV campaign designed to encourage Barbadians to respect SSA workers more and employ best waste practices at all times. 

Michael Nicholls, Deputy Manager of Operations, in his segment urged crews to be aware that noises carry in early hours and while on such a shift it may be better to use a type of code or signal rather than shout instructions to each other. He also praised staff members for remembering to replace lids on bins which were emptied.

SSA Transport Superintendent, Mr. Elvin Chase, also spoke with workers on the proper procedures and techniques of preventative maintenance with all vehicles before and after starting a shift on the road.