Profits should not take precedence over health concerns

Dear Editor,
Kindly permit us agonising villagers a fraction of your space to vent our concerns with regard to the growing impending health endangerment we are currently facing at Belvedere Village, Corentyne, Berbice at the hands of a self- interested businessman.
The anger, frustration, sickness and disgust cannot be suppressed anymore since over the past years, numerous complaints had fallen on deaf ears! Complaints were made to the Public Health Inspector, but to no avail.
A businessman has a chicken outlet right at the head of our street and hundreds of live chickens are brought from his farm on a daily basis. However, the wastes from his operations are improperly disposed of and as the wind blows, we face an unbearable stench of chicken faeces, dead chicken at various stages of decomposition, blood, etc. Unfortunately, these environmental hazards do not end there. The dirty remains of these chickens are visible in the drains, and sadly anytime it rains the water pushes these into our yards making our homes a breeding ground for bacteria and toxins.
This odour nuisance and water and land pollution have become a real threat to our existence. It can lead to human health conditions of the skin, eyes and ears. In addition, waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea can be caused by the polluted water emanating from this risky outlet operation. Our children suffer greatly from this health hazard.
We are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the relevant authorities to immediately investigate this health threat and give us some relief. We, the residents, are also planning a picketing exercise at Belvedere, should there be a failure to address our concerns.
Profits’ consideration should not take precedence over grave health concerns.

Yours sincerely,
Deowattie Gopaul
Latchman Mohabir
and other affected
residents