By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribnemedia.net

GROWING interest in the “Breathe Better Bahamas” demonstration on Saturday in downtown Nassau illustrates the importance that Bahamians are now placing on environmental issues and their relation to human health, according to the organisers.

The community-based environmental group, Raise Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL), say that the health of residents in New Providence is being compromised by the constant emissions being released by persistent fires at the New Providence landfill.

“These fires are hazardous, particularly to children, elderly, those with low immune systems and respiratory issues,” said RABL officials. “Burning waste can increase the risk of heart disease, aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma and emphysema and cause rashes, nausea or headaches, damage in the nervous system, kidney or liver, in the reproductive and development system and promote cancer.”

The organisation added that the freedom to breathe clean air is a “fundamental and inalienable human right”.

“We all have the right to demand clean air and a healthy and liveable environment. We deserve better than to be told to just go inside and close our window. This is an exciting and critical time for us to show our unequivocal, transparent call to Breathe Better Bahamas.”

RABL expects a good turnout for the rally in Rawson Square. Group spokesperson, Heather Carey, said: “We are expecting anywhere from 350 to 1,000 people. Hard to tell. Everywhere we go more and more people say they are coming but haven’t rsvp’d on Facebook. Schools are apparently sending some classes – St Andrew’s, Meridian, Windsor, Tambearly. We’ll see.”

The event, scheduled to start at 2pm Saturday, will include musical performances by Ancient Man, Steve “Tooloose” Holden from the Rum Dums and Bahama Don, both of whom have written songs for the event inspired by environmental issues.

The Kingsway Academy flagpole dancers and drummers are also expected to make an appearance.

Ms Carey confirmed that Dr Norman Gay and Dr Cairo Rocha will also address the crowd.

Fires at the city dump have been a persistent problem for years for New Providence residents. Since January, Renew Bahamas, the company contracted by government to manage the landfill, has battled four separate fires at the site.

Residents living near the landfill have increased calls for government intervention in the matter, complaining that the emissions from the site are “unbearable”.

In February, Gerhard Buekes, the CEO and President of Renew Bahamas, announced that his company had plans to build and manage the nation’s first materials-recycling facility at the Harrold Road landfill.

The “multi-faceted, 125,000 square foot facility” has been marketed as the start of converting one of the nation’s biggest issues into a true “Bahamian success story”.