Trash At Sandy Ground

The Editor,
The Anguillian

Dear Sir,

The trash disposal situation for yachtsmen at Sandy Ground is inadequate and must be improved by installing either several LARGE trash receptacles (to replace the 8 smaller ones) or adding several additional smaller rubbish bins. Trash is collected three times a week, but on Sundays, the trash generated since the Friday pickup becomes a mountain, with bags piled on the ground and atop the rubbish bins. This is an unacceptable public health problem which permits a breeding ground for rats.

Yachtsmen pay steep fees to cruise Anguillian waters. When they register at the Marine Base they inevitably also deposit their rubbish into the receptacles beside the base.

On weekends, with the Easy Cruise or other large passenger ships in port, and music at several of the restaurants on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, those guests generate even more trash while spending their money.

Environmental Affairs must address this unhealthy situation promptly. The health and safety of all Sandy Ground residents, visitors and businesses are at risk. Over the past 15 years we have had a HUGE dumpster for trash, as well as several smaller bins. We simply cannot allow a food supply for the rat colony that inevitably exists in Sandy Ground.
We do not present a picture of a tidy island by allowing huge mountains of trash to accumulate. We need more rubbish bins and weekend collections as well.

The government’s long range plans call for creating a marina and attracting hundreds of fee paying yachts. Yet we do not now provide BASIC trash removal for the dozens that visit each week.

I fervently hope that Environmental Affairs can a place sufficient number of LARGE rubbish bins at Sandy Ground by this weekend, to coincide with the Beach Clean-Up efforts sponsored by the Anguilla National Trust.

A Concerned Visitor