35 / 46
Poverty to Prosperity
Budget Presentation
Gordon House March 19, 2015
35
Mr. Speaker, the recent fire at the Riverton City Dump is the worst we have ever seen. It
had far-reaching and devastating impact on our children, business operations and the
population as a whole.
Notwithstanding the allegation that the fires were deliberately set, the public is angry at the
nonchalance and casual nature of the government‟s response, There was no sense of
urgency, no decisive action, or confidence inspiring response; just as we saw with the
Chickungunya outbreak.
Mr. Speaker, the Riverton City Dump under the PNP administration has become a perennial
problem. It is a public health hazard under the direct control and management of
government. It is being managed by an agency set up to regulate and police waste
disposal. There is an inherent conflict when the regulator is the operator. The regulator
cannot police itself.
Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of the Labour Party to divest the dump to competent operators
who are willing to make the necessary investments to create a green landfill. The dump sits
on over 100 acres, has access to water and is close to the ports. These are further assets
that can be leveraged in any divestment plan, as a properly managed landfill, apart from
recycling, should also have the prospect of being a waste-to-energy generator.