No concern about Beetham smog

THE EDITOR: Morning commuters into Port of Spain almost daily drive through a putrid hanging layer of smog emanating from the Labasse. While most commuters opt for putting up the car glass and pretending that the problem is not their own, I must register my amazement that the relevant authorities are apparently unconcerned that the residents of Beetham breathe this “air.” I also find it odd that Beetham residents are less than concerned about the potential health effects to themselves and their babies. It is more than passing strange that more has not been said on this issue by our environmentalists and health officials. Or are we all waiting on 10 Beetham residents to fall ill, before action is taken? Are we waiting for scandalous newspaper headlines?

The residents of Beetham aside, I must pose the following question in general. Has anyone ever noticed landfill smog hanging over our Caribbean capitals or the metropolitan cities of Europe and North America? I’ve never noticed it over Bridgetown or Kingston or Havana or Caracas. Somehow I don’t believe the citizenry in those countries would find landfill smog acceptable, certainly not over their capital city. Why have we settled for the excuses meted out by SWMCOL in this matter? Is the image of our capital city not important to our country’s ability to conduct  business? If the public is unconcerned with the very air we breathe, it boggles the mind what other issues we would choose to ignore.

A SANKAR
Attorney-at-Law