By Francine Black, Staff Reporter 
A youngster holds up a dead sand fish, one of several that were found in the Rio Cobre river, St. Catherine, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
HEALTH OFFICIALS in St. Catherine are currently investigating the discovery of scores of dead fish seen floating in the Rio Cobre river in St. Catherine yesterday.
But while health officials are busy with their probe, an unidentified, white and foamy substance that has been spotted in the river by fishermen, is being blamed for the fish kill found in the proximity of Flat Bridge.
Already persons are speculating that the local bauxite company may be responsible for the substance seeping into the river. This, however, is still being investigated.
"We are still in the process of determining what is in the river. Where it came from is still unknown," Venton Brown, Employee and Community relations officer at the Windalco Bauxite Plant in Ewarton told The Gleaner yesterday.
He also noted that while some are speculating that the bauxite company could be responsible, the suspected chemical could have come from other manufacturing plants within the parish.
In the meantime, the St. Catherine Parish Council has also taken an interest in the matter.
Upon the request of Dr. Raymoth Notice, Mayor of Spanish Town, the health department has already collected samples of the water which serves many purposes for persons living near its banks.
It is widely used for fishing, washing, bathing and, after an extensive water treatment process, as drinking water for some communities within Spanish Town.
"I have called upon the St. Catherine Health Department to do some investigations," Dr. Notice said.
WATER DISCONNECTED
As a precautionary measure, those communities within St. Catherine whose water supply come from the river, have had their services disconnected and alternative measures are to be put in place to provide water until the investigations have been completed.
Dr. Notice also noted that the contamination of the river has also affected the livelihood of several fishermen within the area.
"I also lament that a lot of persons will be without jobs, which will be especially difficult for them since back to school is approaching," he said.
However Mayor Notice vowed that once the culprit has been found he will be seeking compensation for the affected residents.
"Wherever the fault is we will be asking them to compensate those persons affected," he said.
Nathan Brown, one of the affected fishermen, told The Gleaner that he is contemplating alternative employment since there is still some amount of uncertainty as to how soon before it would be safe to fish in the water again.
"Mi caan do nutten today," Mr. Brown said.
He noted, however, that if rain falls are frequent then the chemicals could be washed away and things could soon return to normal.
