Over 40 residents living within the Fairfield/Vilvoorden area staged a protest yesterday morning against dust pollution from the Golden Fleece Rice Mill Limited owned by Nazemul Hakh .
Hakh has several rice mills including the one operating at Vilvoorden and told this newspaper yesterday he is operating in accordance with EPA standards.
The mill was built in a residential area and residents say they have been affected by dust. Several complaints were made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but according to the residents, nothing was done.
As such, the residents staged their second protest yesterday and called for justice. Abdool Sahib Shameer, who spoke on behalf of the community said that they are frustrated with the situation. He related that the EPA took the miller to court but in the end, withdrew the case without any explanation to the villagers.
“Why the ones filing the case are
withdrawing? … We poor villagers cannot get justice; we have children, elders, and babies. It’s so unfair!”
Shameer also disclosed that letters were sent to the President’s office and to date no response has been received.
“We are not getting any satisfaction anywhere and we villagers are suffering from allergies and respiratory diseases and two of our villagers were locked up and later released over the issue,” he added.
“We made several complaints to ministers who are not acting in favour of residents. We are suffering. This needs to stop!” another resident said.
Residents also complained that daily, they are cleaning handfuls of dust out of their houses. They held samples of what they said was the dust during the protest.
“We are just out here for justice for our people and it’s unfair. Who really representing us?”, one protester asked.
Residents are hoping that the relevant authorities can come to their rescue since the dust pollution, they say, is unbearable. The matter has been reported to regional officials as many residents are falling ill in the community due to dust pollution.
When contacted by the Sunday Stabroek yesterday, the owner, Hakh, said the Golden Fleece Rice Mill is operating in compliance with the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Hakh also informed this newspaper that recently his mill was burnt by several persons who are currently in police custody.
“Someone came in the compound, I was told by two watchmen, and lit the mill. We found two kerosene bottles, and the police arrested two individuals”, he said.
“After these two guys got arrested, the fire service came in did the investigation which revealed it was arson, and everything was done properly because the fire service submitted their report to the police”, Hakh stated.
He added, “The residents are claiming that I am using the situation against them by allowing the dust to emit.”
