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Drowning in our own crap.

I wonder if anyone knows if it is possible to ship samples of raw sewage by mail of Fed Ex. Perhaps what we need to do is send some to all the island, federal and kindom officials and politicians as a present.
I've got an idea, how about we get some key chains made, those clear perspex ones, with a nice greeny yucky lump inside. It would be safe, after all, we wouldn't want anyone getting sick now would we, eh? It might even catch the Dutch and perhaps World medias attention. Just a thought. Photo Blog below.

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The first two photos are from today, some filling is taking place by the Zagersgut entrance to Fresh Pond. It apparently has something to do with hurricane preparedness or the new bridge down by Great Bay. Those guys need to get themselves a mask, the stench there is horrific.

I walked out onto it and got a good look at the corner of the pond, see below.

I also noticed this today, maybe it's always been clear like this, not sure. This is behind the Texaco station, the one which closed and was declared a danger zone because the tanks had been leaking into the ground. There was some talk about cleaning it up, but of course, nothing happened.

Moving on to Arch Road. This is the filling that's taking place for BBW, probably another sketchy deal by Roy that the public knows very little about. The first photo is from Nov last year.

This one from a couple of weeks ago.

The filling is expanding still, the next two photos from today also show a kind of mud or sludge has been used or dumped there at the end of it.

Continuing around to the old Salt Factory, the first two photos are from April 2006.

These are from this past week.

Did you notice the little white bits, they look like tissue or cotton balls or similar. Rather sickening when seen in the raw so to speak.

On again, around to Sucker Garden, I could be wrong, by my memory does not recall the Salt Pond being covered in algae.

These last photos were taken about 6 weeks ago, they show a scummy film on the Salt pond. Mmmm, lovely.

And thats all, just thought you might like to see them. :)

LH

Fresh pond polluter busted - 30th May 2007

Pond pollution being investigated - 29th May 2007

Fresh pond filling for cleaning - 26th May 2007

Roy Marlin Clueless - 25th May 2007

Local Hero's blog | add new comment

Submitted by Local Hero on Fri, 2007-05-25 18:27.

Apartment owner blamed for sewage
SXM PE | Fri, 2007-06-01 00:50

Fresh pond polluter busted - 30th May 2007

reply »

Whats the story
Local Hero | Mon, 2007-07-09 23:49

So, no one is responsible for the crap then? Did they get the wrong guy or just can't prove it was him?

Zagersgut pollution case postponed - 7th July 2007

Enviro cases in court - 7th July 2007

reply »

thanks to the TODAY and SXM PE for story
jadira veen | Fri, 2007-06-01 11:40

So now we have found the culprit, I hope he is brought to court and pays the hefty fine.
I am in total agreement that he also pays for the cleanup, if he will be doing this cleanup with his own manpower and equipment, he should be monitered by Public Works ROB at all times.
Keep in mind this has been an on going problem that has been getting worse.
This apartment owner is responsible for polluting the Fresh Pond, endangering the eco-system of the pond and it's habit but we must also realise he is responsible for endangering our health as well.
This is as much a health issue as it is an environmental issue.
I am one of the persons that has stepped out of the car months ago to see and unfortunately smell the raw feces floating by the Zagers Gut bridge.
I am thankful for the TODAY to get the picture of the apartment owner and SXM PE for putting this on the internet.
While this is one issue, I agree that our Inspection department has to get out there and bust the other culprits polluting.
The Dawn Beach WESTIN hotel culvert leading to the beach with sewage water polluting the beach also needs to be addressed.

reply »

owner is responsible
Anonymous (not verified) | Fri, 2007-06-01 08:37

Of course the apartment owner is held responsible for the sewage. The owner of a property is responsible for what happens in, or on his property. Maybe the owner was misinformed bij the people he bought the property from. So then he was probably in good faith when he bought it. But he had to think when he saw the sewage flowing out into the water.
So, government is finally doing what it had to do for a long time. It is not that difficult.

reply »

keep it up
Anonymous (not verified) | Fri, 2007-06-01 07:11

Although SXMPE and it's contributors will never get the public recognition for lighting the fire to get this problem fixed, it is hard to argue that it wasn't instrumental.
Keep it up!!!!!!!

reply »

Zagergut: Roy spotted at bridge (finally)
Anonymous (not verified) | Wed, 2007-05-30 08:27

Roy Marlin himself, Mr. Dollison, Toontje Buncamper and others from Public Works were spotted yesterday (May 29) at around 5.00 pm doing what appeared to be an on-site inspection of the Zagersgut sewage situation. They were walking on the bridge and proceeded with an inspection of the People's Supermarket premises along the gut.

Finally, they can smell for themselves what has been going on for the past couple of months.....

Hope action will be taken soon....

LH: Thanks for taking time and making these pictures and posting them....

reply »

That hurt! Keep on showing
Dermot | Mon, 2007-05-28 17:50

That hurt! Keep on showing this kind of sadness. One day they will understand.

reply »

surprised birds are still on the salt pond
irieness | Sat, 2007-05-26 08:12

You don't have to be a scientist to know that this is pretty bad pollution, one might not know what it is exactly, but we can safely conclude it's not good at all.
LH pictures speaks for itself, even the salt pond looks in pretty bad shape by itself. Those algal blooms cause oxygen deprivation, which leads to fish starvation. So when are we going to start complaining? Maybe when dead fish start popping up on the surface of the ponds? Or maybe when we have another flash flood causing this water to rise andl enter in people homes , causing illness to those people living in the area.

It usually takes something bad happening for action to be pursued, hope we don't have to resort to that.

reply »

The stench
Anonymous (not verified) | Sun, 2007-05-27 19:35

it will be wonderful to go visit the new governement building surrounded by a stinky salt ponk ,youk!!

lLast week emmaplein was under water after some rain ,can you imagine if a serious tropical storm reach the island this summer , the entire town will be flooded with the disgusting content of the salt pond .

we see beautification and round abouts all over the place but in the past 30 years no one yet had the idea to build a proper drainage for Philipsburg.

poor planning again...

reply »

Great Idea
Anonymous (not verified) | Sat, 2007-05-26 18:32

Flipper you know the people on the Market place that make those souvenirs can be the best persons to ask how help with this project. Send one to Our Majesty, because the Governor did not drive her there when she came in November.
Then to all the commissioners and Caribbean Media and CNN. Give it a try... Donate to Private Eye to Execute the Project.... HELP AND ATTENTION NEEDED

reply »

Wasn't my idea
Flipper | Sat, 2007-05-26 21:00

But I like it too. I wonder if we can get some perspex and epoxy and make some paper weights with a chunk in the middle. We will have to look into this more.

Flipper

reply »

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