DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said while the Christie administration is addressing the health concerns of Marathon residents affected by a 2012 underground fuel leak, the government must also turn attention to residents of western New Providence whose well-being is impacted by acrid smoke when the landfill burns.

He urged the government to give immediate attention to this long-standing problem and remediate the landfill.

The former Bamboo Town MP said he has been informed that it would cost $10 million to remediate the city dump, a million less than what was budgeted for the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. He said the fact that the government has not yet dealt with the issue makes him question the government’s priorities.

“Across the wider New Providence landscape, scores of more Bahamians are being adversely affected from fumes emanating from the city dump as a result of regular fires at that site,” he said. “Dump fires are not a new occurrence. In fact, as far back as many residents of New Providence can recall, fires at the dump have been a regular happening producing foul odours, and thick black smoke which can often be seen for miles.”

“In fact, on more than one occasion, area schools and businesses have had to be evacuated as a result of the smoke and odour. Indeed some homeowners had to leave their homes in the middle of the night because the smoke had become unbearable. There have been complaints by tourists that the first thing they smell when arriving in Nassau is the burning dump. And what about the anticipated guests at this country’s largest resort, Baha Mar, where on any given day that resort can be covered with black smoke?”

He said scientific research has found that burning waste at landfills produces air toxins. “Hydrocarbons, chlorinated materials and pesticide compounds under these conditions produce wide range toxic gases harmful to the environment and public health,” he said.

Fumes from burning waste can cause respiratory issues, heartbeat irregularities and irritation to eyes nose and throat in the short-term, Mr McCartney said.

In the long-term, exposure to such toxins can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system as well as heart attacks and cancer, Mr McCartney said.

He said that for too long, successive governments have fallen down on environmental protection.

The DNA leader said while the government acted late on the Rubis fuel leak, it should not make the same mistake with residents affected by the landfill smoke.

“Even now as the Christie administration attempts to address the healthcare concerns of those residents affected by the Rubis spill, immediate action must also be taken to ensure that families living in the communities near the landfill do not suffer a similar fate. The DNA calls on this government to act now to remediate the landfill.

“During his recent budget communication, the prime minister touted his administration’s commitment to environmental reforms and preservation but made no mention of the government’s plans to address this long-standing issue of the burning dump. It is our understanding that the cost to remediate this issue at the dump is in the vicinity of $10 million.

“It supposedly cost the Bahamian people $9 million to have a huge party – the Bahamas Carnival. This indeed speaks volumes on the government’s priorities.”

Mr McCartney added that Prime Minister Perry Christie is adamant that his government roll out National Health Insurance (NHI) next January.

However, he said, it would be an “absurdity” to introduce universal health care without addressing the issues causing the dump to repeatedly burn and cause illnesses for area residents.