Dear Editor,
There is an unauthorized bottom-house, auto body repair workshop functioning in Prospect, East Bank Demerara. This workshop is separated from a nursery school by a canal that is south of the school.
This workshop is active during school hours and emits banging noises and stifling fumes when spraying is being done. In addition to that, some visitors to the workshop have very loud disturbing music emanating from their vehicles, without any consideration for the old people and others who suffer from severe medical conditions. These noises and chemical fumes (which can cause various diseases) are having ill effects on the young students and neighbours around.
While our intention is not to take bread out of anyone’s mouth, we would like it if this workshop could be closed down or comply with the relevant bylaws and regulations that apply to these types of businesses, so the community would be protected from the dangerous fumes and noise that would definitely harm our mental and physical health.
There are other similar workshops that carry out their business in enclosed buildings with exhaust chimneys that diffuse the fumes high in the air, so that nearby people are protected. It would be in the interest of all if this workshop cleaned up its act and took the necessary steps to ensure that its business does not affect anyone.
We request that you use your good offices in getting some positive action to remedy this worrying situation.
Please note that this workshop has been existence for approximately eighteen years and neighbours have been making complaints to the owners of the workshop and many government agencies, eg, the Office of the President, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, the NDC, Police Complaints Authority, Providence Police station, and others.
We hope that by highlighting this problem we will get some relief from this dangerous situation. The harmful effects on the students of the nearby schools will also be alleviated. We also hope that those whose mandate it is to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens of our country will respond positively.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Dr Indarjit Ramdass, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency for any comment he might wish to make.
