Dear Editor,
It has been over a year now that we the residents of Zeelugt South Block I Housing Scheme have been suffering severe air pollution due to an asphalt plant that has been constructed opposite our scheme.
According to research we have done on more than nine websites, ‘asphalt fumes’ are carcinogenic and deadly. When the asphalt plant is in operation the fumes generated are in the form of smoke that is as thick as mist or fog. Houses are being dirtied, water is contaminated and the fumes are causing all sorts of eye, nose and throat irritations. This plant is approximately two hundred feet from the closest house. It also works day and night and has caused some residents to relocate since they cannot for health reasons remain in their smoke or fume affected homes.
We are in possession of videos and pictures as proof of the effects of the asphalt fumes, showing how it comes up from the plant and moves across the houses, clouding the road in the scheme while vehicles are driving with passengers. According to the Stabroek and Kaieteur News editions for February 23, 2016, rice farmers were banned from spraying using planes. Upon doing research on the drugs used by the farmers we found that these are not half as dangerous as the fumes emitting from asphalt. We are therefore calling on the EPA to facilitate a thorough investigation into the operation of the asphalt plant and its effects on residents, since the plant is a permanent structure. We are aware that the asphalt plant is being used in a great developmental project which all of us will benefit from. However, we want to live healthy lives so we can inherit such a development.
Yours faithfully,
Rondel Mars
Gordon Halley
For concerned citizens of the scheme
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.
