TCI News
TCI: Landfill Fires and Human Rights
#Providenciales, February 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – For several years there have been complaints made about the conditions in Blue Hills, particularly in the Wheeland area due to regular fires at the landfill site. Over the last couple of days there have been many comments on social media about a new fire causing dense smoke in the settlement.
Although it’s not unusual to have an occasional problem at a landfill site, it is unusual that the landfill on Providenciales experiences fires so frequently. In the United Kingdom, home to approximately 70 million people, there are around 280 to 300 landfill fires every year. Providenciales, however, is a significantly smaller country with a population only 0.057% of the UK and having significantly less waste you would anticipate that a landfill fire would be unusual. Unfortunately, for the residents impacted, this is not the case.
There have been many allegations for these fires, such as poor management, illegal immigrants burning coal kilns, to malicious sabotage, but ultimately, whatever the cause, it is Government’s responsibility to resolve this matter expeditiously. This is exactly the purpose governments are meant to fulfil, to maintain the basic infrastructure of a country enabling them to protect the economy, environment, health and life of its residents., these are fundamental human rights.
Landfill fires occur when waste disposed of in a landfill ignites and spreads. Two types of landfill fires are generally recognised. Surface Fires and Deep-Seated Fires. Surface fires typically occur in underdeveloped countries that lack the capacity to properly cover waste with inert daily and intermediate covering, in developed countries they are often caused by arson. If unchecked, spontaneous combustion fires in particular, tend to burn deeper into the waste mass, resulting in deep seated fires.
Deep-Seated landfill fires, unlike a typical fire, are difficult to put out with water unless an overhaul operation is undertaken. In human terms, the emissions arising from these fires, which can continue for years, are potentially 
lethal with well-proven acute and chronic health impacts. Particularly concerning are the tire fires on landfills. Burning tires are known to emit dioxins and benzene derivatives which have been linked with reproductive impairment and cancer in humans.
The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights confers the responsibility upon States to ensure that residents have an adequate standard of living, this means that our Government is responsible for putting in place, and monitoring compliance with, legislation that protects our living standards.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Article 11
- The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also confers the responsibility upon States to ensure that residents enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This is normally associated with promotional campaigns on health matters, free healthcare and adequate mental health services but it is also associated with the quality of the environment that we all live in. In this respect this current administration is making a huge environmental stride with the move towards banning all single use plastics, an initiative that the Turks and Caicos Human Rights Commission fully endorses, but what of the devastating environmental conditions threatening the health of the residents of Blue Hills, Wheeland area?
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Article 12
- The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
- The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:
- The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the child;
- The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
- The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases;
- The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.
Due to the regular fires at the site many residents have reported difficulty in sleeping, problems with breathing and, especially of concern, the deteriorating health of children with asthma. One post on social media commented that a local school had closed due to concerns for the health of the children.
When a school is forced to close due to environmental contamination the government must act swiftly and must act decisively. Among the health impacts of landfill fires are both cancer and higher mortality rates for pregnant mothers and babies. It’s not just the smoke that’s the problem but what that smoke contains, there is the potential here for residents of the area to experience long term health issues as a consequence of these potential pollutants. These fires are not just an inconvenience they are a well-established threat to life. The government must move swiftly in meeting their responsibilities under Article 12, subsection 2 (a) and (b) of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
- The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:
(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the child;
Human Rights are indivisible, this means that if one human right is impacted all human rights are impacted. If you improve the access to one right, you improve the access to all rights and, conversely, if you restrict the access to one right this has a negative impact on all other rights.
These landfill site fires in Providenciales has a direct impact upon the health and quality of life of all the residents in the area and this impacts upon other rights. People who get sick cannot go to work, children who are ill cannot make the most of their education, people who cannot open their windows have to rely on air conditioning further impacting upon their personal finances.
Although the government must act quickly to address the current fire at the landfill site it is far more important that they act decisively to prevent a reoccurrence of this in the future. Whatever the real issues that lead to the repeated fires at the landfill site the government has a responsibility under international and domestic law to identify and put in place a permanent solution and to protect the lives and livelihoods of the residents and their children.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 6
- States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.
- States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.
Release: TCI Human Rights Commission
News
Sandals Foundation and Partners Install and Commission 750 Gallon Ultra-filtration Water Tank at Enid Capron Primary School
MEDIA RELEASE
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, April 17, 2024 – “Thousands have lived without love, but no one has ever lived without water,” according to poet, W. H. Auden. More than 500 students and teachers at the Enid Capron Primary School in Providenciales stand to benefit from a 750 gallons filtration water tank system valued at almost US$15,000 courtesy of the Sandals Foundation, Beaches Turks and Caicos and SIP Water, distributers of ICON LifeSaver®. The system that was recently installed will be able to use
harvested rain water along with its ultra-filtered system to provide potable water.
This project had SIP Water, which is the Caribbean Distributors for ICON LifeSaver®, install and commission the system which was handed over to the administrators of the Sandals Foundation adopted school. ICON LifeSaver® is a British company providing some of the safest, potable water purification solutions in the world through supporting organisations.
Paul Girling, Director of SIP Water says, “This system is able to change untreated, contaminated water into ultra-pure, micro-biologically clean drinking water. Its multi-filtration system removes all micro plastics, bacteria, protozoan cysts and viruses to a minimum level of 99.99% without the need for any electricity or chemicals”.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services and Member of Parliament for the Five Cays area, Hon. Rachel Taylor was present as the system was commissioned. “This is a landmark achievement for the school and the community of Five Cays. This location is an emergency shelter and with the Atlantic Hurricane season not far away, having this in place will serve our students well and by extension, the community. We are grateful for the continued partnership with Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos in giving back to the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Taylor shared.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Managing Director, James McAnally shared, “this project is a giant step towards ensuring the basic necessities in our community are safe and sustainable. We continue to grow and look at new ways to serve in the areas of education, the community and the environment. This tank will go a long way in helping to improve the quality of life of the children and faculty in
the Five Cays community especially during times of disaster.”
Principal at Enid Capron Primary School, Sophia Garland elatedly shared, “our students’ health will be improved as they consume more water daily. This system will provide for us a level of sustainability throughout the school and the community. As an educational institution, we continue to celebrate partnerships with corporate entities that seek to support key infrastructural needs of the students, staff and wider community.”
The ICON LifeSaver® product is environmentally friendly. As a leader in sustainability, this will help in the reduction of plastic bottles. The filters are reusable and typically have a 1-2 year span. This is a patented ultra-filtration technology which is independently tested to the highest portable water standards.
Captions:
Header: Paul Girling (left), director of SIP Water, Sophia Garland (2nd left), principal of the Enid Capron Primary school, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, and Joe Lovegrove, Operations and Technical Director of LifeSaver gave thumbs up sign to the completion of the project.
1st insert: Joe Lovegrove, Operations and Technical Director for LifeSaver takes his time to insert one of the six filters that the filtration system that was recently installed and commissioned at the Enid Capron Primary School.
2nd insert: Enid Capron Primary School teachers share a moment with the ICON team following the successful completion of the installation of the water filtration system with Paul Girling (left) director of SIP Water and Joe Lovegrove Operations and Technical Director for LifeSaver.
Experience Turks and Caicos is fostering an environment where young talent can thrive and excel, and the recent additions to the organisation serve as a testament to that commitment.
Experience Turks and Caicos is pleased to welcome Miss Rothesia Williams and Miss Kristan Lightbourne to the Finance Department as well as Miss Oshin Whyte, who has been assigned a temporary role as Tourism Statistics Officer.
Miss Williams joined the team as an Accounts Clerk effective April 2nd, 2024 while Miss Lightbourne will take up the position of Finance Accountant effective April 15th, 2024.
In her role, Miss Williams will support the Finance Accountant in updating financial records, generating financial reports, reconciling bank statements and processing financial transactions. Miss Williams is a graduate of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and previously worked at the Waterloo Hotel Management Ltd, where she held the roles of Accounting Clerk and Senior Accounts Payable Clerk.
As Financial Accountant, Miss Lightbourne will prepare statements and reports and advise on financial strategy.
Miss Lightbourne previously worked as an accountant at The Shore Club where she oversaw and provided strategic guidance to various sectors within the finance department, including Cost Control, Audit, Accounts Payable, Cash Management, and Payroll and implemented and reviewed internal financial policies and controls to ensure compliance and efficiency among other duties. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from the Turks and Caicos Community College and is currently pursuing her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certification in the United Kingdom.
Miss Whyte will be working temporarily with the team as Tourism Statistics Specialist effective April 3rd, 2024.She will be responsible for collecting and analysing data relevant to the tourism industry that would enable Experience Turks and Caicos to develop informed strategies to enhance the tourism sector.
Miss Whyte previously held the position of Interim Environmental Policy Coordinator with the Ministry of Tourism where she collaborated with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources to ensure the timely delivery of the key objectives of the Sustainable Livelihood Program. She is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences and the University of Kent with a Masters by Research (Hons) in Human Geography
In welcoming the young women to Experience Turks and Caicos, Co-Chair of Experience Turks and Caicos Mr. Alvin Hegner said the future of the tourism industry centres around the youth.
“As we forge ahead in fortifying and expanding our organisation, the stewardship of adept individuals becomes paramount. Given the Turks and Caicos Islands’ singular reliance on tourism, we must foster sustainability by nurturing our youth, empowering them to evolve into the torchbearers of tomorrow who will carry forward the legacy of our current endeavours. I am genuinely enthused to extend a warm welcome to these young women as they join our ranks, eagerly anticipating the remarkable contributions they will undoubtedly make,” he said.
Miss. Williams and Miss Lightbourne will report to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Ms. Rufina Augustin while Miss Whyte will report to the Chief Marketing Officer, Ms. Trina Adams.
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