Last night, we showed you worries of the Orange Walk residents of Chan Pine Ridge Village. They say that ASR/BSI's Towerhill Factory is polluting their air with ash and smoke produced during the factory's cane milling operation.
The residents say that for months now, the ash has been affecting their health, as well as the infrastructure of their homes, since the ash allegedly compromises the integrity of their roofs.
The residents say that they have complained to both BSI/ASR, and the Department of Environment, which is supposed to be policing matters like these, and according to them, the response has been woefully inadequate.
The Chan Pine Ridge Environmental Committee, which is an organization set up to act as the voice of the village residents, has been ramping up public pressure on both the company and the DOE to take action. This afternoon, the committee president came to our office to complain that nothing meaningful is being done to mitigate the harmful effects of the air pollution:
Teresita Torres - President, Chan Pine Ridge Environmental Committee
"We're suffering tremendously, and so, one of our biggest concerns was that they haven't evaluated based on an impact assessment. Neither the Department of the Environment, nor BSI/ASR companies, they have not come to our village, and performed that assessment. They plan amongst themselves, without taking consideration of the people getting affected. Our village is like right next door to where the company is. And so, we're the ones being most affected by the air pollution situation."
Reporter
"We've seen a press release, or at least a public statement from ASR/BSI."
Teresita Torres
"They claim to be a socially responsible entity, however, as I'm saying, they seem to be ignoring us because we've been on our local morning shows, talking about the situation. I have visited the various media houses, and yet, they seem to ignore us. They haven't come, and say, hey, let's talk, let's make decisions here."
Reporter
"How is the Department of Environment's handling of the situation?"
Teresita Torres
"We feel as though we are falling on deaf ears, as you say, because as I say, they don't even have any plans, any environmental plans, so to speak. They haven't had their officers on the grounds, visiting like from house to house to see how this matter is impacting their lives."
According to Torres, the broom-makers of Chan Pine Ridge, which was known countrywide for their high-quality broom production, have been unable to adequately produce, since the hay they use keeps drying up and dying due to the air pollution.
The Committee is currently encouraging all residents who have to visit the doctor for respiratory complications and other health issues, to get it properly documented, so that they can prove that they are not exaggerating about the harmful effects of ash from the BSI/ASR factory.
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