Here is the last part of the interview with Tadzio Bervoets, director of the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, and vice-president of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, which regularly questions the government of the Dutch side about the landfill where they are buried - mix all the waste from Sint Maarten!
The Nature Foundation has, on several occasions, distributed masks to residents during large fires at the landfill. What other actions have you taken to promote better waste management?
We decided to distribute masks even if they did not stop all the toxins but we wanted to do something. People, children move around without any protection. First we took from our budget and then individuals made donations so that we could continue to buy and distribute them. There were even times when we had to give masks to police officers who controlled traffic and had no protection either.
In recent years, with the Nature Foundation, we have raised the alarm by saying that it is not just about environmental concerns. We have an established marine reserve, work to protect and restore marine species, etc. But until we find a solution for the landfill, we cannot really talk about nature protection in Sint Maarten. The chemicals flow into the pond which, in turn, joins the sea. This creates poor bathing conditions in Great Bay, which is nevertheless the beach most frequented by tourists, particularly cruise passengers. And on reefs, this increases the rate of heavy metals in fish, which we end up eating…
We have also tried to make people understand that it is also a public health issue. We made surveys during which we questioned the inhabitants to find out if on the days of heavy smoke they had to consult a doctor. 70% of them answered that yes, they had already been to the hospital for health problems such as headaches, irritated eyes, cough ...
A few years ago, when the pond was dry, we took samples from the mud around the landfill. We tested them and they were found to be positive for copper, zinc, nickel,… heavy metals known to cause serious health problems.
What we have also heard, anecdotally and without being able to prove it yet, is that the people living around the landfill have developed more health problems: cancers, respiratory problems, mucous membranes and eyes…
What are the solutions ?
There have been solutions. But these solutions never worked. After Irma, the money granted by the Dutch government for reconstruction will be supervised by the World Bank, which means that there will be audits, financial controls ... We are doing everything so that part of this money goes to the construction of a new waste management system. We must quickly find a solution. There are several.
I know that a study is under way to determine which would be the most appropriate and that companies are preparing to position themselves when the market offer is published. I hope it will happen soon. As I have said to the government, this is a high priority. Not only because it taints the capital and it is the first thing that cruise passengers see on arrival, but also for the health of the population. And not only on the Dutch side because the smoke does not stop at the border. This also affects the French part, especially the last few times. This is the biggest environmental problem we face today, on both sides. Unfortunately it is on the Dutch side, but I hope that the government and the population of the French side will put pressure on the government of Sint Maarten so that something happens. This affects all parts of the island: the economy, the environment, health… We must stop saying that it is THE priority, and make it the priority.
Where should we start?
“We should already have a real waste management plan with a sorting program supported by the government, and apply it. This is the hardest part. Start by finding a solution to manage existing waste and then think about a new system. Twenty years ago it was already said that the landfill had reached its limits and look where we are today.
I was very disappointed that the joint waste management project with the French side failed. Because it seems obvious on an island of this size that the two parties work together. As there are no controls on the Dutch side, we find ourselves in a situation where trucks from the French side come to empty their load in the landfill of Pond Island. It would be relevant to have a common solution for something that affects both sides of the island.
One of the problems is that we have changed governments every six months to a year for the past eight years and each time the companies that manage the landfill change. After the penultimate election, the bins were not picked up for a week because no one really knew which company should take care of it. And those who knew they had the contract did not have garbage trucks! So we saw garbage collectors picking up, picking up the trash and taking it to the landfill. It's crazy ! If we did not raise this problem nothing would happen. And again, I am afraid, in ten years' time, from talking about the same problems that would not be resolved ”.
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