Roadtown, Tortola - Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC, was present at the Port Purcell dock last weekend to observe the arrival of the Territory’s new incinerator.
Disassembled parts of the gigantic 100-ton-per-day incinerator plant, which were shipped in 14 containers, arrived in the Virgin Islands on two locally owned cargo vessels, MIDNIGHT CHIEF and MIDNIGHT COAST, last Saturday afternoon.
Honourable Penn was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Solid Waste Department, and the Pockwood Pond Incinerator Plant who inspected the different components of the new incinerator upon arrival.
Speaking last Friday, the Minister acknowledged that arrival of the incinerator took longer than initially planned. She however assured the people of the Territory that the ministry continues to work diligently to have the new incinerator commissioned.
Honourable Penn also expressed Government’s appreciation to the Crowley Caribbean Services LLC, who was responsible for shipping the incinerator from North America to the Virgin Islands.
In addition, Honourable Penn thanked the management and staff of the local company Sand Wise Limited which was contracted to transport all of the disassembled components to Pockwood Pond. That aspect of the job was safely completed on Sunday, 18 January.
The Minister also expressed her gratitude to the staff of the Ministry of Health and Social Development for their continued efforts to have the new incinerator commissioned.
The 40-ton per day Consumat CS-1600 modular incinerator currently in use was commissioned in 1994. Owing to the significant increase in the volume of solid waste which is generated each day, it became necessary for Government to acquire a larger facility. Following an expert recommendation, Government approved the purchase of a Consutech/Consumat Modular Controlled Air Incinerator which is two-and-a-half times larger than the existing incinerator.
Government remains committed to providing systems that adequately support the economic growth and development of the Territory including alternative means of solid waste disposal.
British Virgin Islands News