McKinnons Pond Chasing Customers

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Environment Articles

Friday, 18 December 2009 05:55

By Afeefah Beharry

The McKinnons Pond is again causing significant problems to a business owner in the area. This time, Gregory Richmond, proprietor of Sand Haven Bar and Restaurant on Runaway Bay, is complaining of a foul odour emanating from the pond, which has been the source of environmental problems for years.

On Wednesday, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) Nathan Dundas and Chief Health Inspector Lionel Michael led a small delegation to the area to assess the problem.

This came months after Richmond wrote a letter to Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and several other government officials asking them to intervene, since his pleas for help over the years have been ignored.

According to Richmond, the pond’s water level decreases every year, and the resulting smell is very unpleasant. He said this situation has put him and his family out of business.

Richmond also said the area has become an illegal garbage dumpsite, which raises issues of sanitation.

He told Caribarena he got involved after cruise lines began cancelling tours to the Sand Haven beach area. After receiving these reports from the cruise lines, he contacted Michael.

“We have invested thousands on pump systems and diesel costs, only to find our efforts not sufficient for the size of the project, as we have only been able to afford non-commercial equipment," Richmond said. "We now have no customers and are unable to reopen our doors for tour passengers until this smell has gone."

Dundas said he and Michael agreed to involve all of the relevant bodies, to take a comprehensive approach to the problem.

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“A meeting was then called today at the Ministry of Tourism and representations were sought from the Environment Division, the Fisheries Department and the Public Works Department,” Dundas told Caribarena. “The delegation, after holding initial discussions, then decided to visit the site and after observations were made they agreed to start some temporary work on the area.”

The ABCTA president indicated that he also had discussions with Minister of Tourism John Maginley, who promised to invite the Caribbean Environmental Institute, in conjunction with the local Environmental Department, to take a more in-depth look at the situation to find a long-term solution.

Dundas said he has been assured by Michael that work will begin on Friday.

See related articles:

Mckinnons Pond Needs Urgent Help

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