Residents of  Parika Façade, over the last several months, have been plagued with a constant dust nuisance caused by the stockpiling of loam and sand  on a plot of land in front of their homes by the Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council. The situation has been aggravated, residents claim, by the intense prolonged dry season over the last few months.  Not only are their homes and a church covered with dust all day long, as was evident when this newspaper visited, but  it was found that almost entire households were infected with skin rashes and ulcers, as well as problems of the eyes.
The residents claim that animals such as cats and dogs defecate and urinate in the materials stockpiled, and when the breeze blows, the contaminated  dust  gets into their food and drinking water as well as their mouth, eyes and nose. Concerned residents contend that the presence of the sand and loam in front of their homes even prevents the children from being able to play in their yards. As a result, for the duration of the recent holidays, they were confined to their homes with locked windows.
At the home of the Bissessar family, who have lived there for several years, children and adults had ulcers in their heads and other exposed parts of their bodies.  Their wet clothes on the lines, furniture  and literally ‘every crack and crevice’ in the house had dust.
Having been treated for various illnesses caused by the dust nuisance, over time, the Bissessar household now has quite a build up of pharmaceuticals, and the elders in the home are fearful this could have adverse implications.
When  contacted, Overseer of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Ms. Hemwantie Bascom, said that the materials were being stockpiled there   to facilitate any future road  developments, meaning that the stockpile could be there indefinitely.
Bascom admitted the problem was brought to the attention of Council by residents, but said it was the only place Council could find to store the materials.
Residents are calling on the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer guidance to the NDC in dealing with this matter, and are hoping that jointly, the three entities would find somewhere else to stockpile the Council’s materials.