Acrid smoke billowing from the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) incinerator continues to cause environmental issues at the nearby St Bartholomew Primary School, prompting the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) to tell its members to put their health and safety first even if their actions disrupt classes.
The union’s advice to members came even as airport spokeswoman Sharleen Browne said that management was in the process of finding a sustainable solution to the problem.
BUT President Rudy Lovell told Barbados TODAY that as many as five teachers at the Parish Land, Christ Church school had to seek medical attention because the smoke from the incinerator had been affecting their respiratory system from the start of the new school term last week.
While he said that he did not want to disrupt Class 4 students’ preparation for the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination in May, his membership was instructed not to compromise their health.
“We don’t want this to impact on the preparations for the 11-plus exam. This is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed and we cannot play with the health and safety of people in any way. We do not know what is being burnt in the incinerator and we are deeply concerned,” said Lovell.
“The Ministry of Education has been made aware through conversations and messages on WhatsApp, and while the problem really lies with the airport, any action taken by the teachers cannot be condemned by anyone; you can’t expect teachers, children and ancillary staff to remain in an environment that is making them sick. So far, there have been four to five persons attached to that school that developed thyroid problems and those problems were presumably linked to the smoke coming from the incinerator at the airport.”
Lovell said that when he visited the school on Wednesday morning, several teachers were complaining of breathing ailments.
“Even myself as soon as I got on the compound was feeling an itch in my throat,” the union boss said.
He explained that the incinerator smouldered mostly in the morning as the school opened, leaving a pungent odour.
The union had raised concerns about the incinerator smoke several times in 2023.
Lovell said: “The incinerator was smouldering and this has impacted the respiratory systems of teachers and some persons had to seek medical attention. This issue was highlighted by the BUT last year. We held a meeting with representatives from the airport sometime last year and we were given assurances that measures would be put in place to rectify the problem, but it appears that the problem still exists. The union is calling on the management of the airport to resolve this issue.”
In July, the chairman of the union’s safety and health committee, Julian Pierre, said the smoke had become a nuisance and teachers and parents of students not only tried to get transfers but some also had to get operations due to illness.
Out of four teachers who had been sickened with smoke and were absent for “weeks at a time”, he said two had their thyroid glands removed.
Lovell said that while dialogue with the airport management was important, talk alone could not improve the situation and he called for action.
“Failure to resolve this issue, can see the staff at the school prioritising their health and safety in any way deemed necessary by the union,” said the BUT leader. “We like to engage in dialogue but we cannot continue to talk indefinitely.
In a statement, Browne said the airport’s management team was aware of the problem and took it as a matter of importance.
She confirmed that airport bosses met with BUT representatives to resolve the issue.
“We held a meeting regarding this matter with representatives of the BUT and the leadership of St Bartholomew’s Primary, including the principal and senior teacher, to address these concerns comprehensively,” said Browne. “In this collaborative discussion, we attentively listened to the reports from the school and union representatives, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“Following this, GAIA Inc. shared our plan of action aimed at mitigating the discomfort caused by the smoke. To ensure transparency and thorough understanding, a team comprising our chief executive officer Hadley Bourne and an engineer, subsequently visited St. Bartholomew’s Primary. This visit allowed us to directly observe the conditions during the morning period, which the school identified as particularly problematic due to the smoke and odour. This visit was instrumental in shaping our approach and reinforcing our commitment to finding a sustainable solution.”
Browne declared the airport would maintain an open door policy on any discussions about incinerator issues and keep those affected informed on the progress of the solution.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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