While The Dump Burns Our Leaders Fiddle - AYS Listener Writes

Riverton City Dump Burns

Last week the Riverton city dump  smoke threatened a  chikungunya like  epidemic in the corporate area. No one can say with authority if there will be any long term life threatening  effects from this. The responses of some in the seat of power and even some of the general population are an eye opener and a disgust to say the least. But why should I be surprised and expect anything different.

I live in the Hallandale community Bordered by Mannings Hill and Red Hills roads on the East and West, Border Avenue to the north and a major gully to the south.  We have suffered for years from the noxious fumes from fires being lit in the gully. Apart from the  stench which permeates your home  leaving an undesirable odour and residue on curtains and laundry , we have no idea of the type of toxic substances emanating from these  fires.  Coupled with this is the apparent weakening of the gully floor and wall from the constant fires,  so great is the damage that a part of the retaining wall of some homes have  collapsed leaving the land and houses at risk.

More Smoke

On Friday March 13th at the peak of the smoke invasion from the dump the gardener of a neighbour chose to burn and when accosted was truculent saying the whole place was already filled with smoke.

There are fines for persons who break the law by starting these fires but this does not appear to be a deterrent due to a lack of enforcement.

Who Cares?

We have communicated the problem with various authorities, the police, health, fire, the Councillor and Member of Parliament. without any success in alleviating the situation.

Where is our Minister of the Environment ? He is embarrassingly silent since his promises of the last fire. On March 17,  I was not at all pleased with the response of our Prime Minister to reporters  questions on the  dump fire. it reminds me of the fire which consumed Rome while Portia,  sorry I meant Nero,  played the fiddle.