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View Full Version : It's an environmental matter, but also politics



lexmackie
08-28-2010, 05:40 AM
and also corruption, I think.

About a week ago the headlines informed us that Angosturas highly toxic effluent, was a/ going through WASA pipelines to the Beetham Treatment facility. But then, due to a monumental screwup in design and implementation, many years ago and well known, it poured throigh the intended settlement pond, right into Caroni Swamp.

Moreover that this appalling situation has been going on for some ten years with nothing being done to rectify it. And that now, the original cost of 260 millions for those ponds is to be near eclipsed if they are to actually fix it.

Then, within 24 hours, the entire topic disappeared off the news, entirely.

For what? Perhaps another 10 years of "see no evil, hear no evil, and do damn-all?"

To many, as to me, it is nothing short of criminal that Angostura's process residues, are not being taken care of by Angostura. We just know, don't we the very tangible daisy chain that existed between that company's hierarchy and the government of the prior day. Is it therefore such a stretch to imagine how the situation may have been "smoothed over".

But it was well known and even talked about at that time, between a senior company manager and a business friend of mine, that this incredibly polluting poison was just pouring through the WASA drains, day after day, year after year. And as was confrimed in the articles this week, WASA both knew what the poisonous material was / and still is, and further that it has been known for more than a decade now, that it was going absolutely nowhere, other than into Caroni Swamp.

WASA top managers and several echelons below them, plus the Governments that have successively over time employed them in that capacity, are guilty of major environmental crimes. Further, no-one so involved can ever be trusted to pontificate on their respective concerns for the environment, ever again.

Oh, but wait now! The "Head honcho then, and again now, was and is, ........?

Now that's rewards for faithful service!

vaio
08-28-2010, 07:20 AM
About a week ago the headlines informed us that Angosturas highly toxic effluent, was a/ going through WASA pipelines to the Beetham Treatment facility. But then, due to a monumental screwup in design and implementation, many years ago and well known, it poured throigh the intended settlement pond, right into Caroni Swamp.

wdh! i may have missed all of this!! :blink

lexmackie
08-28-2010, 07:36 AM
wdh! i may have missed all of this!! :blink

Which just may have been someones intention

vaio
08-28-2010, 07:49 AM
Trinidad and Tobago taxpayers are now faced with a bill estimated to cost $200 million for repair work on anaerobic digester berms at the $226 million Beetham Wastewater Treatment Plant, which failed a decade ago. A Sunday Guardian investigation revealed the anaerobic digester berms, which formed part of the north water project, were poorly designed and led to the berms sinking at the start of construction in 2000. Newly-installed Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chief executive officer, Ganga Singh was the then Public Utilities Minister. The anaerobic digester berms, investigations revealed, was designed for the three lagoons expected to treat the sewerage from the city of Port-of-Spain and industrial wastewater from Angostura Ltd.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/08/22/big-stink-beetham

yikes

J lindsay
08-29-2010, 12:28 PM
Just how, even in T&T is such a "monumentally expensive screw-up" prompting so few comments. No, not Ganga Singh, (shame on you), I mean the digester berms at 200+ millions and 10+ years of poison into Caroni Swamp.

straphanger
08-29-2010, 07:45 PM
this is VERY SCARY. I am sure Angostura isnt the only company who has process residues.
Has the PP made a statement on overhauling the EMA?

Solachica
08-29-2010, 08:17 PM
Ema is waste of time n money.

vaio
08-30-2010, 07:52 AM
EMA is being reviewed

danniforbes
09-01-2010, 01:33 PM
As sent to all three papers today as a readers letter.



I last returned to Trinidad & Tobago in early 2000. It was for the first time since I had left as a teenager in the late 1980’s, and in the company of a British couple, eager to see the natural beauty of Trinidad & Tobago, as it was known and promoted at that time.



Our first day was a visit to the Caroni Swamp where we were appalled by the garbage and pollution everywhere. And while we were coping with this disgusting sight, the indiscriminate slaughter of the Scarlet Ibis started, right in front of us. It was a sight we will never forget, nor forgive.



And our boat tour operator Mr Winston Nanan was as shocked and horrified as we were.



Soon after this horrendous day, a family member in Port of Spain, mailed me two articles from the Sunday Express, dated 27th February and 5th March, respectively by a Mr Meredith, describing the appalling state of the Swamp, entitled “Sorry Tales From the Swamp”. Please GOOGLE it.



Today, I have been directed to a recent, (August 2010) article in the TT Guardian, and follow-up on the TTONLINE blog site, concerning the fact that for more than TEN YEARS, now, Angostura’s poisonous waste chemicals have been flowing through WASA pipelines, into Beetham Sewage Farm, and onwards, directly into Caroni Swamp.



Apparently more than $220 million dollars was spent on settlement ponds to receive this toxic waste. Which to me as a citizen of T&T begs the question, why oh why were the taxpayers expected to foot the bill for this, instead of the shareholders of Angostura?



And further, why is it only now, after more than ten years of killing what was 60% of the country’s mangrove swamp, and the unique wildlife therein, is it only just being reported? With the aside that it is likely to cost a further $200 million dollars to fix the problem.



And as a further addendum, Mr Ganga Singh, ten years ago in charge of WASA, throughout the time of this ecological and financial disaster, has now been re-hired by that entity. Did he not cost the country enough, in both money and irretrievable damage, the last time?
D. Forbes, London

J lindsay
09-12-2010, 03:41 AM
Angostura to treat own waste
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Published: 12 Sep 2010
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has taken a hands off approach into the treating of effluent discharges of Angostura Ltd. In fact, Sunday Guardian has learnt that Angostura Ltd is set to commence discussions with a contractor in relation to the construction of a plant to treat its own discharges. The move, follows a front page article recently published in the Sunday Guardian two weeks ago highlighting the environmental and health hazard caused by the failed anaerobic digester berms at the Beetham Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Confirming the move yesterday, WASA’s communications specialist Ellen Lewis stated: “We met with Angostura Ltd two weeks ago and reaffirmed a prior established position that they are responsible for the management and treatment of the waste emitted from their plant in accordance with international best practices. “The authority is in no way obligated in this matter. Angostura Ltd has a duty therefore to construct the appropriate treatment facility for any waste generated in its product ion process.”

The findings of a report submitted to the Minister of Public Utilities Emmanuel George, Lewis said concluded that Angostura Ltd must assume full responsibility for its effluent treatment prior to discharges into the environment in accordance with international standards.

vaio
09-12-2010, 02:15 PM
So all that money previously spent just went down the drain :s:

aprillove20
09-23-2010, 10:47 AM
Such as an interesting information J Lindsay and additional details as well.