Caribbean News Volume 2 #8
ENVIRONMENTAL HIJINX ON ST. JOHN!
ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS(ARAWAKROOTS NEWS-11/12/04- Residents that live along Guinia Gut on the island of St. John are outraged and appalled at the V.I. Dept. of Public Works(DPW) and the Port Authority(VIPA) for allowing the dumping of muck dredged from the Enighed Pond Marine Freight Facility Project at the Susannaberg Landfill which flows directly into the gut.
On Oct. 18, American Bridge Co., the contractors for the project, began dumping the muck at the former St. John dump, with the O.K. from DPW and VIPA after it became apparent that there was nowhere left to store it at the project site. The landfill was closed by the U.S. EPA in 1998 and has been limited to being only a transfer station since then. The muck was being dumped without a containment berm first being constructed.
During the night of 0ct. 20-21, a torrential tropical rainstorm washed a large portion of the muck that had been dumped down the side of the landfill and into Guinia Gut below. It continued to slide more than a half of a mile down the gut during the night.
When residents awoke the next morning, they were shocked at what they found. "It is atrocious", said Charles "Trinidad Charlie" Deyalsingh. "The water's color has changed from very clear to murky gray and all the trees on the side of the gut are encased in the muck." Deyalsingh has cultivated a garden of native plants and fruit trees on his heavily-forested property which spans the gut about 1/2 mile below the landfill. "It's pretty depressing to say the least", said Deyalsingh. "It's a completely different experience than it is for the contractors or the government. Whoever gave the permission to allow dumping was not thinking. In all the years I've lived here, I've never seen anything like it." He has been a resident for almost 25 years.
So who is responsible? That distinction appears to fall on VIPA Executive Director Darlin Brin and DPW Deputy Commossioner Ira Wade. Wade originally stated that the dumping was completly legal. The toxicity reports were in (which have since been deemed suspect) and the DPW had 12-year-old permits to dump at the abandoned landfill. Wade also stated that the muck was being used to "cap" the landfill. He is quoted on Oct 22 as saying, "As far as I am concerned, we've dotted all our I's and crossed all our T's."
However, according to V.I. Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources(DPNR) representative Aaron Hutchins, DPW should not have allowed the contractor to dump dredge material from the former salt pond at the landfill. "The sludge was not to go to Susannaberg- it is itself a violation", Hutchins said. "Dredge spoils are definitely not appropriate landfill covers. Salt will burn terrestrial plants."
DPNR never granted permission for the dumping. "We reviewed the [toxicity] results. But there should have been a minimum quality control met." Neither VIPA nor DPW have the authority to permit the contractor to dump without DPNR approval.
Commissioner Wade acknowledged that DPW needed a letter from DPNR before proceeding, but neglected to get it. "DPNR knew the results, but when the final decision to dump the materials was made, DPNR was not advised and that was an error."
Jim Casey, manager of the St. Thomas office of the EPA is among those being drawn into the debate. The controversy was first brought to his attention by concerned citizens, not the territory's regulatory bodies in charge of the project. According to Casey, the circumstances at the landfill have not required EPA oversight. "The EPA does not yet have jurisdiction over this." Casey said he was impressed with citizen response to this local issue and that it was their persistence that persuaded VIPA to stop the dumping.
As things stand now, the dumping has ceased indefinitely and a containment berm has been constructed to hold back the remaining muck. During the night of Nov. 8, another torrential rainstorm washed approximately 1/2 of the muck further down Guinia Gut, exposing some of its natural beauty.
The future holds many questions. This environmental catastrophe won't only taint the waters of Guinia Gut and negatively impact the St. John ecology, but it may cause financial repercussions for the island as well. Guinia Gut discharges into Great Cruz Bay- the beach area of the up-scale WESTIN RESORT AND VILLAS (formerly The Virgin Grand Hotel). Although the resort has not seen any damage yet, management is fearful of what could happen in the future.
Back in the gut, "Trinidad Charlie", who is a representative for the V.I. Resource Conservation and Development Council says, "Why didn't they think about what they are doing now then? There was no thought process put into it beforehand and that is a perfect example of what is happening environmentally all over the island."
Many thanks to Mauri Elbel and Patrick Roche of "St. John Tradewinds" for their research of this article.
To read a related story: News- Vol. 2, #4
EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER FROM "LOVE CITY".
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Is this my island home in the sunshine or is this someone else's paradise? I'm just one voice crying out in the wilderness of hope. I'm hoping that St. Johnians will wake up and start demanding what's rightfully theirs. As indigenous peoples we need more say in the construction and development of our home. I know we don't read, so we don't participate in meetings that will affect change, unless it's about stopping the music at Fred's, etc. Still there comes a time when what I now hear makes me step to the plate and take my first swing. The youth seem to have no future stake in this island. Likewise local businessmen in St. John can't seem to get loans even though they have been shown to have longevity in their practice. It's almost as though someone has an agenda to force my people from the land their ancestors left behind. Newspapers who claim to represent St. Johnians don't represent the cross section of people living here. It's as if we don't exist. Folks live among us now that seem to care nothing about our feelings or what's important to us. I stood in awe in Cruz Bay and witnessed the honor being bestowed on the name of Mr. Frank Powell. His family stood shoulder to shoulder with dignataries and named the Cruz Bay Park after him. What got me upset and caused me to write this is the lack of attendance by outsiders who now claim to be St. Johnians. Was it not important enough to be covered by the media? Did everyone have so much to do that they could not send a representative? This is just the tip of the iceberg. I know I haven't scratched the surface as yet, but this is a wake-up call to those of you who moved here and live here. You can't come into someone's home and move around the furniture without permission. Sooner or later you'll meet resistance. The peaceful, loving island is changing because of your arrogance. The have's don't include the have-not's, and in any society since the dawning of time, crime is the ultimate consequence. I listen to the youth as well as the elders of these islands, and I'll tell all of you right now- it's painting a very scary picture. The racial incidences in Cruz Bay, Coral Bay and elsewhere should not be taken lightly. It's at a boiling point right now and if we do not affect change it's going to explode.
I know many folk who may want to chastise me for writing this way but the truth must be told. I'm out there spreading the word about the love I left on St. John while touring the USA with INNER VISIONS. I returned last week to a home riddled with complaints as I inquired about the state of things here. We need healing and lots of soul searching if we are to live side by side in this island. No more can we dig our heads in the sand and pretend that"īt doesn't bother me. It's someone else's problem!" This is going to affect all who have a stake in it. Let's not forget Fountain Valley!!! It can happen just as easily here!
Sharing my thoughts with love for my island home,
Philip "Grasshopper" Pickering
Philip is the Lead Guitarist/Vocalist for Inner Visions. They returned home recently from their U.S Tour.
