Residents voice frustration on EPA’s failure to address chicken pen issue

… Says rainy season fuelling stench and air pollution

As the rainy season reaches Guyana, several residents from Hope, West Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) have recently voiced their frustration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failing to swiftly address the issue of stench and air pollution caused by a large-scale double-deck chicken pen, which was recently constructed in their neighbourhood.

In an interview with this publication, a resident of the area, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that the issue has been affecting the community for quite some time. However, the situation rapidly escalated after the poultry farmer decided to increase his production by expanding the chicken pen to a two-storey structure.
“So, like about three to four years back, this guy he built a fowl pen. Now the fowl pen that he built was a flat something in the yard – he eventually expanded to a two-storey. So, the entire yard have pens… Now, around last year, the guy extended bigger, and the next-door neighbour have four little children, and the fowl dust with the stinkiness, it’s affecting the children a lot and with this current rainy season, the place is very stink,” the resident explained.
According to the resident, following the discomfort, multiple members of the community had reached out to the poultry farmer to resolve the situation. However, these efforts failed because of alleged hostility displayed by the mother of the businessman.
“We spoke to him personally; his mother is very aggressive – now that whenever you speak out against the pen, she will throw remarks on you,” the resident claimed.
Following the unsuccessful efforts to peacefully resolve the situation, residents had moved to authorities such as their Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the main agency responsible for dealing with matters of such nature.
After residents criticised the NDC, Guyana Times reached out to chairman of the Enmore/Hope NDC, Ravi Sharma, who denied that the organization has neglected the wellbeing of the community.
The chairman revealed that, in fact, the NDC would have engaged the EPA on the matter, since they do not have the authority to effectively address the issue.
“We would’ve engaged EPA on the matter so it’s at the EPA level… I think twice the EPA went and do some inspection there, because the matter was not too long ago raised by the residents during an outreach with the Vice President,” the Chairman disclosed.
Another resident, who also wishes to remain anonymous, confirmed that the EPA did site visits and, at a previous visit weeks ago, the EPA had informed the residents that they have a “strategy” to deal with the situation.
However to date, no follow up visits, inspections or updates were given to members of the community.
“Well, EPA came here – the last visit, maybe a month and change – it’s not more than 2 months ago – but they come and tell us that they have a strategy and they will look into it. But I didn’t see them back so I don’t know what’s going on with them,” the resident said.
In a bid to get more clarity on what is being done to address the situation and bring relief to residents, Guyana Times made efforts to contact the Head of the agency. However these efforts have been futile, so it is currently unclear whether the businessman is rearing 500 birds or more, and if he is authorized to do so, as well as if he is complying with EPA guidelines.
As the EPA has a mandate to take necessary steps for the management, conservation, protection, and improvement of the environment, it is tasked with taking steps to prevent or control pollution; assess the impact of economic development on the environment, and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Over the years, one such step has been to develop regulations, strategies, action plans and guidelines to support its efforts to curb some of the more persistent environmental issues.
With the country’s growing economy, the demand for poultry and its products has increased. Poultry rearing is a quick, convenient business that not only supports the local demand for poultry in the fast-food business; it also creates jobs and income-generating opportunities, which is particularly important to small-scale farmers.
An unfortunate fact, however, is that if not done correctly, poultry rearing can have negative consequences for the environment and human health. Poorly managed poultry rearing operations can result in odour nuisance, water and land pollution, and lead to human health conditions of the skin, eyes and ears.
Further, waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea can be caused by polluted water emanating from poultry-rearing facilities. In poultry rearing, certain considerations must be taken to prevent associated issues that have the potential to compromise the quality of the environment and human health.
As such the EPA in 2022 had released guidelines for persons desirous of rearing poultry, in which location, housing and solid waste management guidelines have been addressed, along with how to manage wastewater, and control air and dust emissions.