–as Bosai oil spills continue

By Vanessa Braithwaite
FARMERS in riverine communities up the Demerara River in Region 10 are calling on the relevant authorities to have the issue of oil spills in the river, creeks and waterways dealt with promptly, as they are losing their livelihood to this environmental hazard.The oil, allegedly coming from Bosai’s Kiln 14, is polluting the waterways that residents depend on for domestic purposes and, most importantly, for farming. One farmer who identified himself as Rambarrat said complaints were made to the Bosai officials several times in the past, but the matter has been dealt with casually, even though he has lost thousands of dollars in crops.

“This here is a normal thing, like every three months it does happen. Early last year I had this problem, and when Bosai authorities decide to come was like two weeks after, and the damage already done and I already plant back,” he revealed.

After noticing the oil in the river, Rambarrat travelled on Tuesday from Dalawala, six miles up the Demerara River, to seek the intervention of Regional Chairman Renis Morian. He described the situation as “sickening”, as the residents use the water to wash, bath, and undertake other domestic purposes. As a farmer, Rambarrat said, he is seriously affected, especially during this dry weather, when water sources are already limited.

Regional Chairman Morian has said he is “fed up” with Bosai’s environmental practices, as several complaints from his office were made to the company but the situation remains the same.

“We now nurturing agriculture from a small level, and the water that the people dipping from the pan full of oil. Bosai supposed to compensate the farmers, or to do a cleanup exercise, and I am holding them guilty for that,” the Regional Chairman said.

He also told this publication that Government needs to be more robust in handling environmental health issues, as these matters were brought to the attention of the Ministry of Natural Resources on several occasions.

That Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Joslyn McKenzie, when contacted on Tuesday, said a team from the Environmental Protection Agency will journey to Linden today to investigate the matter.

Efforts to reach Bosai’s Public Relations Officer proved futile.