By:Curtis Morton
Charlestown-Nevis–Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation, Hon. Alexis Jeffers was certainly not in a happy mood on Wednesday 7th October.
This is ‘unsightly; it is unhealthy and it is unacceptable,’ he stated passionately. The statement was made in reference to several sites of illegal dumping at sections of the upscale property known as Nugent’s Heights, situated at Pinney’s Estate.
Minister Jeffers indicated that he received a phone call that informed him of the persistence of illegal dumping in the area and he responded in his capacity as Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Nevis Housing and Land Corporation.
He pointed out that the Nevis Island Administration had sold numerous lots of lands in the area to Nevisians who intend to build their homes. Some have built already and some are still planning to do so.
However, persons unknown have used the privacy afforded by some of the overgrown lots, to effectively dump all manner of waste materials onto some of the properties.
The waste materials discovered at the sites included: Used stoves; washing machines; television sets; vehicle parts; doors and household garbage.
Minister Jeffers was accompanied by Manager at the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority, Mr. Andrew Hendrickson who also referred to the act of indiscriminate dumping as ‘despicable.’
He noted that the lots of land were well positioned, with the scenic view of the St.Kitts peninsular and the Four Seasons resort’s villa projects in full view.
He used the opportunity to urge well meaning citizens to utilize the only site legally acceptable on the island for waste disposal, which is the Sanitary Landfill, located at Long Point.
Minister Jeffers indicated that he will utilize resources from the Nevis Housing and Lands Corporation to assist in cleaning up the area and also promised to clear some of the overgrown lots so that the areas used for dumping will be more visible to passersby.
He also urged major wholesale outlets on the island to update their data base, as some of the owners of the discarded washing machines and television sets etc may be traced via serial numbers found on the items.
“All right thinking Nevisians will agree that if and when such persons are caught, that the full measures of the law be brought to bear against them”, he said.
The NTV camera crew was also on hand the capture the unsightly scene.