By 
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ‘The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause about 6.5 million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.’ However, in Guyana air pollution is not taken seriously, treated like a first world problem and due to lack of enforcement of environmental laws polluters are allowed to attack the health of innocent citizens.
Since being personally affected by ‘preventable’ air pollution I have experienced how unwillingly the relevant authorities are to deal with this issue. In many instances the threat to health can be prevented if only the persons causing the pollution desist or employ environmentally friendly alternatives.
For my first article on pollution I will start with my own experience. After many years of visiting various entities, writing numerous letters and employing other means my situation has improved but the issue is still present and my health continues to suffer. At this point I have encountered a roadblock due to the unwillingness of the authorities to assist me further. From reading my story you may think it was a battle with a billion dollar, all-powerful conglomerate but the reality is a battle with my very ordinary neighbour and I am still awaiting help from the NDC, EPA and Ministry of Communities. This sought after help is basically asking these entities to carry out the functions that they are paid to do in the first place by taxpayers like myself.
Lack of zoning and enforcement of regulations governing businesses
My neighbourhood is rural with scattered little shops serving the needs of the village. It can in no manner be described as a commercial zone. People live their entire lives here. Unfortunately, my next door neighbour owns a bar aka rum shop. I would not have viewed this as ‘unfortunate’ if the owner had followed regulations to not negatively affect me by his business activities. From my first complaint I realized why he was not concerned about the impact of his actions. He was empowered by the Councillors and other Public officials who are paid by taxpayers and whose duty it was to serve unbiasedly the needs of the community to act like a powerful bully.
The battle for clean air
It started years prior, but my battle with the authorities really begun in November 2011. Many days I was forced to wait in the lower part of our house until the neighbour finished burning the garbage from his bar which consisted mainly of Styrofoam boxes that he used to serve food in. Sometimes, the wait to sleep at night would end until early morning after the bar closed because I was unsure of when he intended to burn the rubbish. If I was in the upper part of the house when the burning was happening I would suffer from headaches, sneezing, chest congestion and other respiratory symptoms due to inhalation of the fumes. How was I supposed to block out air? I was forced to involuntarily submit my body and therefore health to constant attacks from poisonous air/ air pollution.
Styrofoam boxes and plastic waste from the bar being burnt. Sadly as can be seen although I was not the cause of this due to the direction of the smoke I was severely affected (home to the right, not in photo). Photo taken in 2014. I started my complaints in 2011!
Illegal Night Burning in the illegal structure on the govt reserve
(Video showing garbage burning in this structure situated on the public road)
Also, the bar owner was allowed by the Councillors of the NDC, tasked with ensuring that businesses in the community were following the rules and regulations governing their activities, to cook the food for his restaurant using a fireside (outdoor cooking setup using wood for those unfamiliar with this). The Councillors did not consider the effect the smoke would have on the health of nearby residents.
The effects of air pollution on the health of those exposed
Maybe it is the lack of enforcement of the law that causes people to act selfishly and without empathy. The problem with air pollution is that people become involuntarily subjected to attacks on their health and quality of life by the polluters who are not held accountable e.g. when garbage is burnt the chemicals and toxins released are diffused over a large area. It cannot be contained.
For years I have suffered from respiratory problems due to the inhalation of smoke from next door. My quality of life was greatly impacted: numerous days home from work due to respiratory illnesses (bronchitis), constant headaches, eye irritation, sneezing, chest congestion, throat infections etc. Medications for the symptoms made me feel constantly tired, sleepy and medicated. I was forced to use medication with numerous side effects on a daily basis just because the public officials refused to enforce environmental laws. I don’t know if future health problems lie ahead due to years of exposure to toxins.
There is no benefit to burning garbage. When polystyrene is burnt it releases styrene and benzene which are neurotoxins and possible carcinogens, carbon monoxide and other toxins. I was being poisoned with the blessings of the authorities.
Even burning wood to cook is not safe. The WHO states, ‘4.3 million people a year die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution caused by the inefficient use of solid fuels (2012 data) for cooking.’ Burning wood releases carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter which one then breathes in that goes directly to the lungs and causes a host of health problems. The smoke created by my neighbour did not stay on his property it diffused in the air and affected my health as is the norm with smoke! I did not consent to this but was forcibly subjected yet the authorities were unable to sympathize with me.
Ineffective response from the relevant authorities
Mon Repos/ La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council
Apparently this NDC is tasked with enforcing regulations and dealing with sanitation issues in my neighbourhood but from my interactions with them I was left bitter and angry.
In 2011 this was the first entity that I contacted. An official visited and informed me that my neighbour had the right to burn garbage and there was nothing that can be done. I did not believe this information to be accurate and persevered by visiting other public places.
After being ordered by various institutions to address my problem the officials of the NDC visited several times but often those visits were to intimidate, humiliate and disregard my concerns.
On one occasion I went to the NDC where I met the overseer and the chairwoman who told me that I must ‘clean up my own house’ before I complain about others! I was left dumbfounded. Another time I was at the Ministry of Communities when in my presence an employee spoke via phone with the overseer about my issue. He told her that I have a problem with my neighbour to which she replied that he must carry out his duties and whatever problem exists is of no concern to him.
Unbelievably, I was even told by a councillor on a night visit to the burning site, while the fire was blazing, that the smoke is going up in a straight line. Guess he never heard about diffusion. ‘Sanitation officers’ visited the neighbour’s premises and told me that they found nothing wrong. I can clearly recall two of these officials grinning at me and saying to each other, ‘look how frighten she is.’ It was a big joke to them.
After several directives from the Ministry of Communities to the NDC I was given a copy of a letter which instructed my neighbour to dismantle his garbage burning structure. This letter was later proven to be farce since the words were without meaning and nothing was enforced. Months later when the media visited the structure was still up.
Regional Democratic Council (RDC)
After encountering roadblocks from the NDC I moved to the RDC which is the managing body.
That was a comedy show. When I spoke about my health issues from the pollution I was told that if I develop bronchitis or cancer I should seek help from the Medex!
Here again I was informed that only the NDC can deal with my problem and the officials ignored my complaints about the indifference shown by the Council. I was left to fend for myself.
When I began sending letters to the press a reporter investigated my claim and contacted the RDC for a comment. The Deputy Regional Chairman of Region 4, Earl Lambert was quoted as saying, ‘legal action in cases such as these is difficult to pursue.’
He told the reporter that while the NDC bylaws prohibit the disposal of solid waste by burning, he is not aware of any bylaws which would address the use of a fireside to cook. ‘The NDC is powerless to act in such a case. That is a matter for the EPA. In order to take it to court, you will need scientific evidence to prove the impact of the smoke and so forth.’
Most people are aware that during a fire the majority of deaths are caused from smoke inhalation even before the actual fire reaches the victims, yet this man questions the health impact of smoke inhalation. What can be the benefits of inhaling smoke? According to the EPA (international one), ‘The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis. Fine particles can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks. Fine particles can also trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions.’ There are countless articles from the most respected agencies in the world highlighting the dangers of air pollution with scientific evidence yet I was made to feel like I was an attention seeker talking about an unknown phenomenon.
Ministry of Communities
This ministry should be ‘the boss at the top’ for the RDCs and NDCs so naturally I visited here after getting no help from the mentioned councils.
Another royal run-around awaited me. Numerous visits where the overseer of the NDC was directed to act yet he failed, and this Ministry refused to do more to help or address the unwillingness of the NDC officials to perform their duties.
One day when my frustrations reached boiling point I accused the Ministry of being corrupt. This elicited a potent response. From being told that the security guard was on his way to ‘throw me out of the building’, during the wait I was surprisingly offered an audience with the Minister (after I stated that I was going to protest in front of the building and make a call to Kaieteur News) and the ‘throw out’ was put on indefinite hold. While in conversation with the Minister he spoke to the overseer and instructed him to address my situation. I thought I was finally going to see the light at the end of the tunnel but only indifference awaited me. Apparently, the Minister was not considered to be such an authoritative figure by the councillors at the Mon Repos/ La Reconnaissance NDC.
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency was on the list. I thought at least this agency would be concerned about air pollution. I was proven wrong.
From the onset I was told by the environmentalists here that the NDC is responsible for addressing my plight. Interestingly, every time I sent a letter to the press about my plight the EPA’s environmentalists visited my neighbour. I was not privy to what was said to him but the interactions yielded no results since he just carried on as usual.
I found that the EPA has devised regulations to address air pollution with penalties attached. The question is, who is this applicable to? According to the Environmental Protection (Air Quality) Regulations 2000, any facility that emits air pollutants must register with the Agency and apply for an Environmental Authorisation. No one should be involved in activities that lead to emission of contaminants into the atmosphere without an Environmental Authorisation to do so. There are penalties for persons who refuse to comply with the Regulations up to a fine of $500,000 or imprisonment for up to six (6) months.
Legal measures
On one occasion a letter was sent from my lawyer, judging from the actions of my neighbour this letter was ignored.
The Constitution of Guyana even has a clause which deals with the environment, ‘149J. (1) Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being.’ The problem is that due to endemic corruption people really do not have respect for the laws of the land.
Action taken by the Police
Many Guyanese, including me, have little faith in Police officers. This hasn’t changed. During the height of my dilemma I visited the nearest police station. I was asked by an officer whether I was single to which I replied in the affirmative. The officer then said that my neighbour is probably ‘bothering’ me because he likes me and I was dismissed. Another time when a few of them visited they told me that they can’t do anything about the situation.
Media response
After years of inaction from the relevant agencies I decided to send letters to the newspapers ( first, second, third) about my situation. They only elicited a few courtesy calls from the EPA and NDC.
The media was the last resort for me and I never believed that the newspaper would investigate my claim based on my letters. The letters themselves spoke of my desperation. I had to resort to the newspapers for fireside cooking and garbage burning because the NDC, EPA and Ministry of Communities were unable to handle such a little issue. Sometimes only when thousands are affected is a problem addressed as if a single life is meaningless and undeserving of being noticed.
After Stabroek News decided to investigate my situation I saw some positive activities. An official from the Ministry of Communities, Mr. Derek Kowlessar spoke with my neighbour. The fireside cooking stopped and the concrete structure used for garbage burning was demolished.
Many persons are unaware of how dangerous smoke inhalation is
After my story was covered by the press persons who deemed my situation as too trivial decided to treat it as a joke on the most popular social media platform. The reason for mentioning it is that many persons are unaware of how unhealthy it is to inhale smoke.
The internet is mind-blowingly amazing, so much information from the best references worldwide with the click of a mouse. An article dealing with the deadly consequences of cooking over an open fire from National Geographic states that the typical cooking fire produces about 400 cigarettes’ worth of smoke an hour, and prolonged exposure is associated with respiratory infections, eye damage, heart and lung disease, and lung cancer. In the developing world, health problems from smoke inhalation are a significant cause of death in both children under five and women.
Garbage burning and outdoor cooking using fossil fuels are not seen as unhealthy practices
Although my neighbour knew that he was affecting my health he still continued burning as normal. I can only speculate about his reasons. However, he made a very telling remark to the journalist who investigated my situation. He told her that all the entities to which I complained, visited his home and found that he is not causing me harm. This statement was published and never refuted by the entities. Did the EPA and NDC think that smoke inhalation was beneficial for my health?
There are hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who live in the USA, Canada and Britain and they comply with environmental and community rules and regulations so why don’t people do the same here? Every day litterbugs and polluters migrate but on landing in foreign countries they immediately become compliant. I believe that due to lack of enforcement, endemic corruption and lawlessness in Guyana people have no respect for the law and do not bother with such things as empathy and consideration.
The end result
I was told by Mr. Kowlessar and the EPA that the commercial cooking was now going to be done on the further side of the building and a chimney higher than the nearest house will be erected to capture the smoke and fumes. The Mon Repos/ La Reconnaissance NDC was supposed to monitor this and ensure that the measures were implemented.
Nothing was done. More than one year later the commercial cooking is occurring closer to our building and the promised chimney has turned out to be a pipe dream.
I sent another letter to the press about the measures proposed by the EPA and Ministry of Communities not being implemented. No response from either was forthcoming.
Letters from me to the NDC and Ministry of Communities were ignored. The EPA responded to my letter by stating that the neighbour was using a stove to do his commercial cooking. Nothing was mentioned about the fumes and smoke created from the hours of deep-frying that occurs.
Due to the smoke and pungent odours from hours of frying food that often begin at 12 midday and end at 12 midnight I constantly get headaches, throat infections and other respiratory infections. The interior of our house is always hazy and the air outside the same. It is like being in a fog. Aren’t the cooking areas of restaurants required to have some sort of ventilation system or is it that regulations in this country are applied discriminatorily?
I noticed that many buildings which house restaurants either have elaborate ventilation systems which can be seen from outside (fast food chains) or a ‘chimney’ higher than the building (small local restaurants). If smoke inhalation was good for one’s health why were they required to have these? There must exist regulations that govern the establishment of restaurants or places that engage in commercial cooking? Then again maybe the problem is that in a lawless land where regulations are not imposed and laws are disregarded due to non-enforcement, corruption and apathy people become empowered to act without consideration or empathy for the well-being of others.
I am still waiting on the NDC, EPA or Ministry of Communities to assist me with this issue.
Pollution in all forms is an issue that is grossly overlooked by the authorities in Guyana. From garbage dumping and littering; stagnant, clogged and smelly waterways to burning of any waste material without care, everything is done publicly.
