The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has put the government on notice, calling for the immediate cleanup of Glendairy Prison and the surrounding area.
The party’s president Senator Andre Worrell made the appeal on the outskirts of the compound Saturday afternoon.
Worrell, who is also the party’s spokesperson on Health & Wellness, and candidate for St Michael Central, said, “The reason why we are here is because we wanted to highlight the fact that this prison is actually an environmental health crisis for the residents in this area. There have been several complaints of attacks by bees, which come from the vines that you see coming out of the walls of the prison and actually have their nests inside the walls of the prison.”
Worrell referenced the Health Service Amendment Act, which addresses nuisance violations with those found in breach to be given notice to have the property cleaned up. He believes government needs to lead by example. He said, “Now here we have a situation where the Government of Barbados is the main culprit in this situation because this abandoned Glendairy Prison, which was abandoned from 2003, has become a health hazard for all of those persons who live in Deane’s Village, Station Hill area, anywhere surrounding the Glendairy Prison.”
A nearby canal filled with stagnant water is also raising concerns. Worrell remarked, “As you go through the entire community, you see a number of different spots and areas which could benefit from a thorough environmental cleanup.”
The area is being used for dumping.
Worrell acknowledged, “It is not going to be an easy job. It is going to be a job that requires the government to take action because you have the entire perimeter of the prison, which would need cleaning up. So, you would need to bring in first of all the specialist to take out the beehives, and then you would need to deal with the trees and the bush on the walls and hanging over the walls and get that cleaned up, so the residents would have a safe environment.”
Echoing recent statements by Professor Henry Fraser and Cheryl Willoughby, Director of the National Task Force on Crime Prevention, Worrell suggested that the facility could be repurposed as a base for employment of persons who are out of the prison system. Worrell reiterated, “I believe that is a useful way of utilising the building instead of allowing it to run to ruin and also be a major environmental concern.”
When the area was clean, many community activities took place there, especially football. Worrell lamented, “If you go through the village, there are a number of young people who do not benefit from that opportunity because of the state of the gully not being cleaned up.”
Leader of the Opposition and Political Leader of the Democratic Labour Party Ralph Thorne highlighted that the government is breaching their mandate in three ways. Citing a legislative breach, Thorne contends, “They have passed a law penalising people for precisely what is happening here, and what is happening here is government’s responsibility.”
He pointed out, “It also breaches government’s mandate in terms of the green economy. Government has told the people of Barbados that it is going around planting a million trees.” Thorne recalled, “I believe in Parliament a few weeks ago, the minister said he has planted 600,000 so far, and not one of the 600,000 is here.”
Several derelict vehicles are on the site.
Thirdly Thorne noted, “They are breaching a mandate in terms of recreation.” Reflecting on the area’s past contribution to Barbados’ footballing legacy, he recalled, “Back in the 70s and 80s, every 11 players who played football for Barbados, 10 used to be from Weymouth Wales.”
Expressing concern he said, “The young people out here don’t have that similar opportunity. We have a government telling people that they are creating mini stadia, and we have argued that what they are creating are not mini stadia. Here is the perfect opportunity to enfranchise the people out here and to have the children come up in a community that is pleasant.”
Thorne continued, “This secret that is hidden away from the people of Barbados has great potential, except that the government and its representative, they have turned their backs on the people of this constituency, St Michael Central.”
Resident Robert Butcher added, “I don’t know what the government is doing. I figure with National Conservation Commission, and the cleanup all of this should be done.” He stated, “Deane’s Village is festered with mosquitoes and there is an outbreak of dengue because of these. We should get something done to help out the people in Deane’s Village.”
Worrell maintained several complaints have been made to the NCC, but to date, no action has been taken. (STT)
The post DLP wants immediate cleanup of Glendairy Prison, surrounding area appeared first on Barbados Today.
