The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – In the interest of public safety, the Grand Bahama Port Authority has asked Bahama Rock to move the stockpile of dirt just west of its plant further from the Warren Levarity Highway.

This comes after community activists Troy Garvey and Etienne Farquharson raised concerns last week about the safety of drivers in the area.

Arthur Jones, vice president of Building and Development Services at the Grand Bahama Port Authority, told The Tribune yesterday he visited the site, and understands why residents would be concerned.

He said immediate measures will be taken by Bahama Rock to reduce the height of the dirt and move it further away from the road.

“I can understand why citizens would be concerned about it,” he said. “I don’t think Mr Garvey’s or Mr Farquharson’s comments were unreasonable.”

Mr Garvey and Mr Farquharson felt that the dirt was too close to the road. They also felt the elevation was too steep and a landslide could occur at any time on the Warren Levarity Highway.

Describing the situation as a “disaster waiting to happen,” they called on the relevant authorities to address the matter.

Mr Jones said that as regulators, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has a responsibility to address the safety of road users along the Warren Levarity Highway.

“While we feel that the stockpile of dirt in question is not unstable, there is room to make it more stable and thus avert any potential hazards to the motoring public,” he said.

Mr Farquharson had also expressed concerns about the absence or lack of oversight of the operations at Bahama Rock.

Mr Jones, who has responsibility for environmental compliance in the Port Area, said his team conducts periodic monitoring.

He said inspectors go out every three months to see what the companies are doing.

“Anything we would spot that sends out an alarm, we try to address it,” he said.

Mr Jones – a civic engineer by profession – explained that they did not find any problems when they checked initially.

“We did not have a problem with what we saw because we thought it was stable. (We did) a cursory look. We did not feel that the stockpile had reached that level where we had to do that.

“But, on the other hand, because we had residents who made comments about it, we decided to take a second look at it before our period of monitoring happens, and I can understand why citizens would be concerned about it.”

Mr Jones pointed out that heavy equipment work is being carried out on the west side of the plant.

He explained that the high stockpile of dirt west of the Bahama Rock gate was created as a buffer to ensure that debris from the machines is not thrown onto the highway.

“People think that because the dirt is stocked high there is a higher probability of it collapsing and torrential rain may wash it on the road. When I drove by and looked at it I agreed with them, but when I went in the yard to look at it I thought it was sufficiently stable. However, despite that, it is better to be safe.

“As a result of what residents are saying we think it is better to make it safer. We spoke with Bahama Rock … and they have been very co-operative. I don’t know if they have started (to move the stockpile), but they promised that they would do so.”

The GBPA, Mr Jones said, is very concerned with the safety of the public.

“We want to make certain that whatever happens, the public is safe and we are satisfied the public will be safe.

“Company officials of Bahama Rock have assured us of their willing co-operation in reducing the height of the berm on the western side of their entrance gates, as well as the introduction of vegetation between the stockpile and roadway to act as an additional preventative measure,” he said.