by Curlan Campbell, NOW Grenada
- 28 years of complaints about garbage dumped in the Carenage yields no resolution
- Sails Restaurant & Bar bearing brunt of blame and losing customers
- Garbage include human faeces originates from berthed cargo vessels and fishing trawlers
The scenic harbour in St George’s called The Carenage is described as one of the most captivating harbours in the region. Locally referred to as the Wharf, the horseshoe-shaped harbour has for years been utilised as a loading dock for cargo vessels and fishing trawlers.
Over 28 years, Shereen Holas has lodged many complaints regarding pollution and unsightly garbage dumped in the waters of the Carenage.
Holas is the manager of Sails Restaurant & Bar located opposite the National Water and Sewage Authority (NAWASA) building on the Carenage. Persons wishing to dine at her restaurant have constantly and wrongfully blamed her for improper garbage disposal.
Holas said all the garbage including plastic bags, bottles, dead animals, fish guts and even human faeces that can be seen floating in the water, originate from the cargo vessels and fishing trawlers that berth higher up, and with the help of the current, the pollutants accumulate near the restaurant. The situation has gotten to the point where guests are forced to either leave the restaurant or relocate to another table to avoid the site of the floating garbage.
“This is not an easy subject to address because it affects people directly, but then it comes to me directly and by extension it affects my guests — and of course we talk about our tourism product. Now, what type of tourism product do I have if it is smack in the middle of faeces, garbage or intestines or a cow head? There have been such great oil spills out here that there are guests sitting and cannot consume their food because of the scent of the diesel, and the oil is so strong that guests have to leave.”
Due to the constant sighting of garbage in and around the vicinity of the restaurant, Holas said the restaurant bears the brunt of the blame.
“What hurts is that we get blamed. The restaurant gets a bad name first because that’s where they are sitting and we get asked why aren’t we doing anything. It has gotten progressively worse and everyone is saying yes we will do something about it, but nobody is doing anything.”
As a result, the restaurant owner decided to take matters in her own hands and has her staff clean the water periodically, but this too was unsustainable over time since the arrival of garbage can be unpredicted. “We have tried several things to no avail. We had several meetings with organisations on the Carenage and have started organisations every year with the hope of looking after the Carenage but there are hundreds of groups that have started and failed. It only lasts 2 meetings.”
Holas stated that although she is not opposing the berthing of vessels on the Carenage, there must be some attention paid to the improper disposal of garbage into the ocean. “We are not opposing the boat trade. We are not opposing the schooners because they supply us with fish, but when it becomes a problem that it takes away from your business and affect your health, you have to speak about it,” she said.
She argues that while Grenada is getting positive reviews about our tourism product, at the same time the island is also getting negative reviews due to the improper disposal of garbage.
Nature tour operator, Syisha Williams recorded footage with his mobile phone of garbage seen floating in the water near the Financial Complex. Williams believes this problem can be easily addressed if the owners of cargo vessels and fishing trawlers pay a fee to be allowed to berth on the Carenage, and in turn that fee can be used to pay someone to keep the Carenage clean.
“If the trawlers are allowed the privilege of using the Carenage then it is incumbent on them and their responsibility to keep the Carenage clean because that’s where they make money. It can be an easy $25 a week per contribution from each boat which will be $100 a month to put in the pot to pay someone. That will be a really good salary for a young person right now to come and keep the Carenage clean,” he said.
Holas wants the authorities take a more serious approach to this problem which can have far-reaching implications for the island Pure Grenada brand. The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) could not be reached for comment.
NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
It is not only the Carenage in True Blue where I live, there is rubbish all over and human waste in on the road from
establishment ,the Health Department is fully aware of these problems.
We can do more than just highlighting the problem, we can solve it. Anytime we see garbage we must picking it up, within reason. We need to re-educate our people, young and old, about the dangers to ourselves/environment. What happens when plastic, old car oil, cement or paint is dumped in the bush or water ways? I think this is a great opportunity to start raising the awareness of our people, lets be each others keeps again, so our children can truly enjoy a pure Grenada.