THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS public knowledge that there is a constant odour and sometimes smoke being emitted from the Riverton City Dump. Added to this is the pollution from the industrial emission and heavy vehicular traffic in its vicinity.
Residents in the immediate environs are suffering great discomfort and a myriad of chronic respiratory ailments. Despite numerous complaints and pleas aired in the media, both the National Solid Waste Management and the Public Health Department have denied knowledge of any report, much to my dismay.
It concerns me that the issue regarding cigarette smoking has made much furore in the news quite recently; yet the long-standing issue of the Riverton City dump has fallen on deaf ears.
It is also a known fact that the effect of cigarette smoking on the human body is hazardous and life-threatening. Would this not hold true for the smoke and the pungent, toxic odour arising from the dump? Is it because this problem does not affect Upper St. Andrew why we are given such scant regard?
Would someone in the relevant authority care to respond?
I am, etc.,
CONCERNED CITIZEN
sharon.costley@cwjamaica.com
