By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterA CLASS action suit is dangling over the management of WINDALCO's Ewarton Bauxite/Alumina Works for the spill of caustic soda from the plant that contaminated the Rio Cobre last month.
That is, if the company does not act on the ultimatum that has been issued by the newly-formed non-governmental organisation Rio Cobre Contamination Committee (RCCC), which is probing the incident on behalf of approximately 70 fisherfolk and their families from various St. Catherine communities who have been adversely affected.
NO RETREAT OR SURRENDER
"We believe in consultation rather than confrontation, but we will not allow the matter to be washed away. There will be no retreat or surrender because we believe our position is a just one and a principled one," said Hopeton O'Connor-Dennie, communications consultant for the RCCC. "Mr. Ronald Thwaites (attorney-at-law) has agreed to represent the affected area pro bono on this caustic soda spill," he said.
At the press conference, which was held at Arian's Restaurant, Spanish Village, Twickenham Park yesterday morning, Rosemarie Greene, convenor of the committee, added that the RCCC will be seeking restitution for the fisherfolk, who have not been able to make ends meet since the contamination of the river on August 11.
"What I am asking WINDALCO to do is to compensate the fishermen who have been displaced and their fish poisoned," said Mrs. Greene.
NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE
One of the fishermen who has suffered loss as a result of the spill is Anthony Stewart of Crescent district in Kent Hill, who has been treading the waters for 25 years. "We the people don't have any other alternative but fishing and in the twinkling of an eye our livelihood has been shattered," he lamented.
No representative from WINDALCO was present at the meeting.
When The Gleaner contacted Kayon Wallace-Headley, communications officer at the company, she said the company was still awaiting the results of the laboratory tests from the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) for final determination of the cause of the fish kill.
Until then, she said, the issue of compensation was not on the cards. She explained that pending a meeting scheduled for later this week with the JBI and Water Resources Authority, no premature statements would be made.
"We have regulatory agencies that are conducting investigations and until that information is communicated we cannot take responsibility for the fish kill," said Mrs. Wallace-Headley.
