Friday, February 23, 2018
By Morgan Adderley
Tribune Staff Reporter
madderley@tribunemedia.net
AN online petition has been started to stop the creation of a proposed cemetery on Bernard Road.
The petition cites potential water pollution, exacerbated traffic congestion, and devaluation of properties as reasons why the proposal should be blocked.
On February 15, The Tribune published a public notice from the Department of Physical Planning announcing the proposal.
The notice said: “The public is hereby notified site plan application (SPA/1/2018) on behalf of Mr James R Bain is being reviewed by the Department of Physical Planning for presentation to the Town Planning Committee.
“This proposed tract of land contains 13.504 acres and is situated on the northern side of Bernard Road, immediately east of Sands Addition and approximately 450 feet west of Adderley Street.
“The applicant wishes to develop a cemetery, construct a chapel and a mausoleum with related facilities on the property.”
Tiffany Eldon started the petition against the proposal yesterday.
It is addressed to the Department of Physical Planning and says: “We are against it because we the people feel it will have an impact on the water table, which can be hazardous to our health.
“We are against it because this is already a very congested area and this will cause more congestion in this area. We are against it because it can devalue home owners’ properties.”
Up to press time, the petition had 36 signatures and was being shared across social media.
Of the proposal, one Facebook user said: “This is the worst place to put a graveyard.”
Another posted: “Wow this is a horrible location for a graveyard...traffic is done ridiculous out east and plenty residents in those areas use well water.”
Comments
jujutreeclub says...
To be honest with you. If it is to get rid of that graveyard thats there now (the car dump) I am all for that. What is worst?. The oil and transmission fluids going into the water table or the dust from the embalmed bodies?. I will go with the dust from the embalmed bodies any day. At least the area would be beautified hopefully with proper landscaping etc as opposed to the unsightly piles of garbage from the junk yard.
Posted 23 February 2018, 11:26 a.m. Suggest removal
BahamaRed says...
First off if Bahamians would stop burying their deceased in metal caskets, contamination of the water table wouldn't be an issue. Everything else (body, clothes) is biodegradable and absorbed into the earth with no negative effects. The amount of water table poisoning from embalming fluid is negligible. Meanwhile, metal caskets sitting in the ground giving off all kinds of corrosive poisoning for years (because metal isn't biodegradable) is a real issue.
As for traffic, again not that big an issue if the proposed site as adequate parking so as not to block the road with cars parked on the side during an interment ceremony. People can park in the lot and traffic wouldn't be affected.
But then again Bahamians so disrespectful they like to be weaving in and out of funeral processions, as opposed to letting them pass.
Posted 23 February 2018, 12:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Chucky says...
Do you really believe that a metal casket is poisoning the ground water? What about rebar in concrete, or cars and other objects that are rusting all over the place? Do you think that other objects rusting on the surface are different?
Last I checked iron was from the ground, and is natural.
I'd be much more concerned about your own actions via consumption during your lifetime, (and that of others). Believe me being buried in a metal casket is probably the smallest environmental footprint a person has through the course of their lifetime.
Posted 23 February 2018, 4:32 p.m. Suggest removal
John says...
But there has to be some level of tolerance. If one had the power to tell people to stop dying then there would be no need for grave yards. Until then a place has to be found to bury them who decide to die (or be killed in this town). People were burning coal in the South West New Providence even before any one could afford a gas stove. Now they are being told they have to stop. Persons who had animal farms for generations are forced out of busines but we all still need food to eat.
Posted 23 February 2018, 4:11 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Burying the dead should be banned totally ........ it is all part of the conspiracy to spend $20,000.00 on a meaningless public spectacle ......... cremation should be mandatory.
Posted 23 February 2018, 5:27 p.m. Suggest removal
BahamaRed says...
Chucky do your research, metal from caskets get into the water table much quicker than metal from above ground. Considering the fact that the water table in The Bahamas is higher than most places the metal is absorbed right into the water table.
It mostly affects the immediate area because they are the ones who have direct access to the portion of the water table.
If you don't believe me, go and do some water samples and get back to me I'll wait...
Posted 24 February 2018, 9:53 a.m. Suggest removal
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