- EUSTATIUS--With the 2020 hurricane season started on June 1, Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij urged residents of St. Eustatius to remove debris and bulk waste from their homes and yards.
Van Rij stated that in consultation with the Island Support Team, the public entity St. Eustatius has started the process of removing debris.
EJL Services, the company that manages Statia’s waste plant, has already started cleaning up a number of illegal dumpsites and has started enforcing the law where it pertains to waste disposal.
The persons who are responsible for the illegal dumpsites will be visited and will be fined, Commissioner van Rij said. He said that illegal dumping of waste is “not acceptable” and is also “totally unnecessary” as the island has a “very efficient” waste plant.
The island government is encouraging all residents of Statia to start early in cleaning up their own surroundings, as this their responsibility. “The government is counting on each resident to do this,” Van Rij said.
He said most people know from experience what can happen with loose pieces of zinc and other items in backyards when a hurricane or a heavy storm passes the island.
“These items can literally become flying objects and can potentially cause damage to your own property or that of your neighbours, or even worse, to human beings. It is important that you get all bulk waste to the waste plant in the coming weeks, as they are preparing for the arrival of a barge that will remove a large amount of metal and other waste from the island,” Van Rij said.
The public entity will also be looking into the containers on the island. The containers will also be inspected to ensure that they are securely anchored.
