Dear Editor:<\/p>\n
I find myself wondering recently, am I playing \u201cThe Blame Game\u201d or \u201cSend the Fool Further? When I was little, we played a game entitled \u201cSend the Fool Further.\u201d It entailed having someone with a real or not so real problem trying to find a feasible solution. The person would take the issue to another individual whom they believe can help.\u00a0 That individual would listen and then send you to another person.\u00a0 The complainant, thinking that the listener was genuine, would move on to see the other person. This would continue because the person was so gullible, they believed that each person genuinely had their interest at heart. The Blame Game on the other hand, sees everybody blaming somebody, other than themselves, for whatever is the situation. I am confused as to which of these two games, or maybe it\u2019s the two, that I find myself an involuntary participant in, at this time. My problem is real, and I am crying out for help. Let me enlighten you about my plight.<\/p>\n
I write this article not to upset or offend anyone, or even to point fingers or cast blame. I write mainly to shed light on a rather painful and filthy situation.\u00a0 Born and raised on St. John, I have remained a contributing member of this community all my life.\u00a0 I currently reside in an area that is in close proximity to the Susannaberg landfill. After the passing of the two recent hurricanes, the landfill has also turned out to be the collection site for storm related debris. This has proven to be a monstrous headache for many. You can well imagine that living close to this area, has also become a nightmare for my family and other residents in the area. Why is this such a problem you ask?\u00a0 I will explain.<\/p>\n
You must agree when I tell you, this is a health hazard for everyone in my household and the immediate community. I am cognizant of the fact that there has been a problem in getting the hurricane debris a permanent home off island. While this is so, the household garbage continues to accumulate at the site. The refuse is not being removed in a timely manner and this is exacerbating the problem. This is not just a problem for me, it is a Virgin Islands problem. We are mindful that tourism is our lifeblood, and the unsightly, garbage-strewn, unhealthy, rodent and mosquito infested environment can hurt not only our well-being, but our finances as well. Who goes on vacation to get sick? Who wants to wake up in the morning or drive by to and from work to be confronted with such a horrid mess?<\/p>\n
I shared this information in the form of a letter with the following individuals and agencies. I will share their responses:<\/p>\n
I am unable to sit on my porch or inhale clean air! I can only open my door briefly to go in or out or a bombardment of houseflies will swarm into my home! \u00a0The rats at that site are the size of a household cat! I don\u2019t want them chasing me out of my home. This is no way to live!\u00a0 I need the blame game to end! I am running out of energy to fight any one, anymore!\u00a0 Please do not let my family run out of good health or even life! I am appealing to our Health Department, Public Works, and elected officials.\u00a0 The Office of the St. John Administrator, Waste Management and Environmental Protection Agency and the office of the Governor must get involved too.\u00a0 The lord knows that St. John received a whole lot of bad publicity in recent times when a family became sick because of an environmental mishap.\u00a0 I want to be proactive and get some remediation to a bad situation before somebody else – including me and my family gets sick!\u00a0 A word to the wise is sufficient they say. \u00a0I am sharing my plight and I am now waiting on my government officials who I need to take some corrective action to assist in whatever way they can.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Submitted on Wednesday by:<\/strong>\u00a0Deborah and Seldon Charles \u2013 St. John residents.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feature Image:\u00a0Susannaberg Landfill (Credit: St. John Tradewinds News)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Editor: I find myself wondering recently, am I playing \u201cThe Blame Game\u201d or \u201cSend the Fool Further? When I was little, we played a game entitled \u201cSend the Fool Further.\u201d It entailed having someone with a real or not so real problem trying to find a feasible solution. The person would take the issue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":63363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,147],"tags":[6078,8267],"yoast_head":"\n