From Coalition to Keep BT Dump Free

Long before the recent flames at the George Town (GT) landfill, the Coalition to Keep BT Dump Free warned of the danger of fire inherent to a dump, and the potential toxic fallout.  Since its launch by thirty concerned Bodden Town (BT) residents in October 2011, the Coalition has called for the urgent elimination of Mount-Trashmore, and for a solution to the GT dump problem where it is, by establishing waste-to-energy in tandem with a comprehensive recycling programme.

The Coalition has repeatedly insisted that moving the dump –to get it out of Dart’s “backyard” so that it can proceed with a planned residential project for the wealthy – is not a solution and certainly no protection against further fires.  On the contrary.

In a flyer published in December 2011, the Coalition explained why establishing a new landfill anywhere on the island, and in particular in BT, would be a disaster for the island’s environment, defying all common sense as well as current world practice.  “We’d be ruining a pristine area with possible toxic air emissions, the risk of fire and explosions, disease through rodents and contamination of the water table into the wetlands.”

Given the “wide open spaces around Midland Acres and the winds from the east, the area is much more vulnerable to fires and natural disasters like hurricanes.”  This was confirmed by Minister Osbourne Bodden, who stated that the recent fire at the GT dump would have been much more difficult to contain at the BT site proposed by Dart.

In May 2012, Coalition leaders wrote about the massive fire at the Riverton landfill in Jamaica, which led to a forensic investigation following complaints of ill health and financial claims from nearby residents.  An initial post-fire air study conducted by the National Environment and Planning Agency revealed an alarming level of carcinogenic pollutants – three times that of World Health Organization standards!

And, while this disaster in Jamaica certainly highlighted the risk of disease, death, material destruction, damage to major industries, and the potential for staggering financial claims, the ongoing debate over the future management of the Riverton landfill has not elicited a single suggestion of moving it elsewhere.

However, the Caymanian Compass editors continue to peddle the Dart proposal to move the dump and “export” the problem elsewhere.  In its January 6^th editorial, the Compass writes “that we’re not at this time advocating for a new landfill in Bodden Town…we are saying that Bodden Town shouldn’t be ruled out.”

We do agree with two points made by the editor – that the landfill problem can no longer be ignored, and that the dump was “…the biggest issue of the May 2013 election.”  The Coalition considered it a promising victory that the proponents of moving the dump were decisively thrown out of office, and that a new government was elected on the basis of its commitment to solve the problem where it is.

But, the Compass editors draw quite a different balance sheet, accusing the new government of being “parochial, politically expedient and short-sighted” in opposing Dart’s proposal to move the dump.  They caution the government against “political considerations” in dealing with the GT landfill.

Coalition chairman Mr. Alain Beiner, asks the Compass:  “Are you suggesting that the government now break their promise on what you agree was probably the key plank in their victory platform?  As well, every single elected MLA from BT specifically pledged, in writing, to oppose any plan to move the dump to BT.”

“I’d instead caution the Compass against ‘commercial expediency’”, adds Mr. Beiner.  “Is it a coincidence that the Compass has blindly and uncritically pushed the Dart dump proposal, and biased their reporting, while the McKeeva government and Dart were among their major sources of advertising revenue?  Is it a coincidence that they ignored Coalition press releases and activities for the first few months of our campaign – until it was impossible to ignore us?”

Coalition leader and Midland Acres resident Ms Arlene Whittaker finds it “…laudable that the new editor of the Compass, in the same January 6^th editorial, underlines the importance of a ‘legal, transparent and public procurement process’ in identifying a waste management solution.  These notions were never a concern for the previous editor of the Compass when the McKeeva government was trying to ram through the Dart project, even after the adoption of the FFR (Framework for Financial Responsibility) when the Coalition challenged Dart and the government to respect the provisions of the new law.”

In a June 11^th 2013 press release, the Coalition stated that Government can “ identify the best affordable solution for the people of Grand Cayman by following due process and transparency.  While including large, overseas firms, there are many local experts and businessmen in the field who must be part of an open and competitive process, who may well be able to offer better options.  There’s also the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) which deserves more of a mandate than  ‘rubber-stamping’ the Dart plan.  And, of course, the Central Tenders Committee, whose previous recommendations were ignored, must be a key component in finding the best solution.”

Ms Whittaker, while encouraged by the government’s pledge to call for proposals this year, warns that “Government must act quickly, not only because of the dangerous state of the dump, but because further delay will strengthen the Dart PR machine and its apologists in the media.”  According to Ms Whittaker, “they’ll try and claim that the delay means there’s no other solution than Dart’s.”

Ms Whittaker explains that “local engineers and waste management entrepreneurs on Grand Cayman have outlined possible options to eliminate Mt. Trashmore in less than eight years, using small, modular, affordable air burners for waste-to-energy, like those currently used on Aruba, together with recycling, recuperation and resale of what’s valuable at the dump.  Structures for sorting and recycling are already in place, although still never used, and there’s neighbouring Crown land for expansion.”

Citing current world practice, Coalition leader Gregg Anderson adds that one thing is certain:  “Establishing a new landfill and contaminating another site are never the solution to fixing an existing landfill, certainly not when the alternative site is environmentally, so far from the source of most of the island’s waste, with absolutely no infrastructure for the increased traffic.”

Mr. Anderson suggests that Government “…look at examples of modern waste management solutions implemented elsewhere in the world, such as the announcement in the UK last year of an £8 million waste-to-energy plant in Teeside, serving an area of over a million people.  Through waste-to-energy and recycling, a proper solution may prove much less costly than we’ve forked out in penalties and legal fees for the many ill-conceived and broken contracts by the previous government.”

“The Compass editors would have Government ignore the will of the people,” adds Mr. Beiner.  “In spite of the election results, they slyly put Dart’s proposal to move the dump back on the table by stating that the landfill is in ‘…just the worst possible place it could be.’  But, there is no ‘better place’ for a dump on this island, nor for the inherent health risks.  There is, quite simply, no place for a dump anywhere on this island!  Given that successive past governments have shirked their responsibility in regards to Mt Trashmore, better that it stay in full view until eliminated through waste-to-energy, rather than hiding it elsewhere.”