Frustrated residents of Cane Grove, Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara are once again lamenting the severe dust pollution that they are being forced to endure from a rice mill operated by Mr Feyaadul Hakh for over a decade now.
Dust which one resident claims he collected in his home
The residents raised their concerns once more with a team from the Alliance for Change (AFC) led by Party Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and including Gerhard Ramsaroop, along with political activist, Freddie Kissoon, when they visited the area last weekend at the invitation of residents.
Residents showed the AFC team their homes, with the dust being evident everywhere. They are forced to keep their windows locked, but even that does not keep the dust out. One resident met the team with her child in hand, who she said has respiratory ailments because of the dust. Another resident had to buy a blower to help control the dust in her yard.
The offending mill: The dirty area at the top is where the dust emanates
Documents were shown to the visiting team indicating no environmental permit was granted to Hakh, neither was permission granted to erect additional silos. The residents also pointed to encroachment on the reserve by Hakh. The AFC in a statement on the matter said it is disgusted that these flagrant breaches are being tolerated for so long.
Moreover, despite numerous promises by Mr Hakh and Government officials, including past President, Bharrat Jagdeo and former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, the situation has actually worsened.
Freddie Kissoon listening to the residents’ concerns
Khemraj Ramjattan listening to the residents’ concerns
Khemraj Ramjattan and Gerhard Ramsaroop listening to the residents’ concerns
A resident with her child who she says has respiratory ailments due to the dust
Affected homes
More affected homes
Dust in a resident’s yard a few hundred feet away
Motor-blower a resident was forced to buy
Dust on a verandah rail a few hundred feet away
Dust on a verandah a few hundred feet away
Affected homes a few hundred feet away
Brush on standby in an affected home a few hundred feet away
Affected homes a few hundred feet away
The encroachment on the reserve
AFC demanding remedy for dust pollution problem in Cane Grove
The party said in a press release that AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and executive member Gerhard Ramsaroop along with political activist Freddie Kissoon paid a visit to Cane Grove on the invitation of the residents. “They were lamenting the continued problems they arefacing with dust emanating from the rice mill operated by Mr Feyaadul Hakh for over a decade now,” the release stated.
Dust gathered by a householder (AFC photo)
Residents showed the AFC representatives their homes where the dust was evident everywhere. They are forced to keep their windows locked but even that does not keep the dust out, the release noted. One resident came with her child who she said has respiratory ailments because of the dust. Another resident had to buy a blower to help control the dust in her yard.
Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC speaking to residents (AFC photo)
Meanwhile, documents were shown to the AFC indicating that no environmental permit was granted to Hakh nor was permission given to erect additional silos.
Residents also pointed to the encroachment on the reserve by Hakh. According to the release, the AFC has expressed its disgust that these flagrant breaches are being tolerated for so long.
Moreover, the AFC noted, despite numerous promises by Hakh and government officials, including past President, Bharrat Jagdeo and former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, the situation has actually worsened.
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