Gareth Manning and Tyrone Reid, Gleaner Writers
Kingston Mayor, Desmond McKenzie, addresses the media at the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation's monthly media briefing at the KSAC's Church Street, downtown Kingston office yesterday. At left is acting Town Clerk, Lincoln Edwards. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE KINGSTON and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the University of the West Indies (UWI) to desist from dumping raw sewage into the Goldsmith gully or face legal action.
"I have instructed the university that I am giving them 14 days, and if they fail to comply with the council's request I will be instructing the Town Clerk to proceed to take the necessary action that will get the university to comply with the dictates of the KSAC," said an adamant Desmond McKenzie, Mayor of Kingston.
Mr. McKenzie went on a rant yesterday during the KSAC's monthly press briefing at its Church Street offices, downtown Kingston. He said that while on a recent tour of the Goldsmith Villa housing scheme in eastern St. Andrew, he discovered the unsightly and unhealthy practice.
RAW SEWAGE
"I was shocked. I was horrified to see a four-inch (thick) sewage pipe leading from the University of the West Indies dumping sewage, thousands of gallons of raw sewage every day into the Goldsmith gully. A livid Mayor McKenzie lambasted the UWI administration, as he cited that such actions should not be forthcoming from an institution of higher learning. "Personally, I find it a national disgrace that an institution like the UWI, which is supposed to be setting examples for the region in environmental responsibility, should be involved in such a dangerous practice, which creates such severe health consequences for our communities," the mayor said in a letter addressed to Professor E. Nigel Harris, vice chancellor of the UWI.
He continued: "That is why you find so many children and adults with all sorts of diseases, and you don't know where they come from."
When The Gleaner contacted Professor Harris' office yesterday, his executive assistant said that they had not yet received the letter.
TREATMENT PLANT
Meanwhile, Joseph Pereira, deputy principal of the UWI, claimed ignorance of the mayor's sweeping indictment. "As far as I know all our sewage goes to the UWI treatment plant, but I will have maintenance look into the matter and file a report," he said.
Mr. Pereira revealed that the only report of a problem with regards to the university's sewer system was a choke that was reported to him on Friday after the passage of Hurricane Dennis.
The mayor, who seemed to be on a roll, also blasted the National Water Commission for the sewage he said that the state-owned utility company is releasing into the gullies. "Almost every gully in the Corporate Area is receiving raw sewage from the National Water Commission and we can't continue like this," he said.
