Nearly three years after the government contracted the Virginia company Consutech Systems to supply parts to repair the fire-damaged incinerator in Pockwood Pond, many of the parts have not arrived …
January 27, 2025
December 5, 2024
No end in sight for incinerator fix
Nearly three years after a fire shut down the Pockwood Pond incinerator, the Virginia company hired to supply replacement parts still has not delivered most of them, and the government …
August 30, 2024
Dumpsite to be expanded
As workers loaded trash on Monday behind the incinerator building in Pockwood Pond, Waste Management Director Marcus Solomon pointed up to a wooded area on the nearby hillside. The site, …
February 2, 2024
Glass crusher at work in Pockwood Pond
A new glass crusher at the Pockwood Pond dumpsite is now tasked with diverting as much as one-fifth of Tortola’s waste stream. Located between the non-operational incinerator and the concrete …
December 27, 2023
The new waste director’s trial by fire
Waste Management Director Marcus Solomon stood with his back to the non-operational incinerator December 14, watching a front-end loader scrape clean the dumpsite tipping area at Pockwood Pond. He crossed …
December 1, 2023
Incinerator gets parts, but others still needed
As waste crises plague the territory’s two most populated islands, government is working to complete long-delayed repairs to the Tortola incinerator and to bring Virgin Gorda a safer landfill, according …
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October 20, 2023
Crime spike leaves leaders explaining
Following a string of high-profile crimes in recent days, law enforcers are increasing police patrols across the territory, reviewing school security, and strengthening the border, among other measures, leaders said …
September 29, 2023
Waste boss visits incinerator company
As part of efforts to repair the incinerator in Pockwood Pond by the end of the year, officials from the Department of Waste Management recently visited the plant’s manufacturer in …
September 7, 2023
Incinerator fix promised by December
The trash incinerator at Pockwood Pond is expected to be operational again by the end of the year, Department of Waste Management Director Marcus Solomon said during a community meeting …
May 12, 2023
At dumpsite, ministers promise better, but incinerator still down
Seven days before the general election, Dr. Karl Dawson stood outside the House of Assembly to protest burning at the Pockwood Pond dump that had been sending clouds of acrid …
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June 3, 2022
Incinerator repair date bumped again
After two fires at the Pockwood Pond dump last month sent thick smoke over West End and beyond, Health and Social Development Minister Marlon Penn said May 26 in the …
March 31, 2022
Pockwood Pond incinerator down for six months or more
Shortly after a fire caused extensive damage to the Pockwood Pond incinerator on Feb. 14, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said the facility would likely be offline for …
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February 28, 2022
EDITORIAL: Incinerator woes expose government inaction
Yet again, a fire has shut down the Pockwood Pond incinerator. Yet again, the resulting trash buildup will inevitably cause fires at the nearby landfill, and toxic smoke will blow …
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February 25, 2022
Malone: Incinerator likely down for two-to-four months
After a fire broke out at the Pockwood Pond incinerator last week and hobbled its operations, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said in a Tuesday interview that he …
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February 18, 2022
Incinerator down after major fire
Seven firefighters aboard two trucks extinguished a blaze that badly damaged the Pockwood Pond incinerator plant early Monday morning, Chief Fire Officer Zebalon McLean said yesterday. The fire did not …
May 14, 2021
EDITORIAL: The waste strategy is great, but it must be followed
The territory’s outdated waste disposal system is nothing short of a national crisis, and it is endangering residents’ health and degrading the environment. We are therefore glad that the government …
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May 12, 2021
New waste strategy rehashes old goals
In 2013 the government adopted a comprehensive strategy to overhaul the territory’s waste management system from the ground up. Most of its plans were not accomplished, but now leaders are …
April 27, 2021
Malone grilled on pollution scrubber
The Pockwood Pond incinerator is back burning trash after six weeks offline, but Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone came under fire in the House of Assembly last week …
April 16, 2021
Incinerator back up after weeks offline
The Pockwood Pond incinerator is burning trash again after being offline for about six weeks, during which residents complained frequently about the fires and smoke from the landfill behind the …
August 14, 2020
Fire breaks out in Pockwood landfill
Clouds of black smoke billowed from the landfill behind the Pockwood Pond incinerator after the area caught fire on Monday, but by the following day the flames had abated and …
March 4, 2020
COMMENTARY — VI urged to stop open burning
Recycling aluminium cans, glass and plastic is a wonderful, positive first step! But let’s take the second step: Let’s stop open burning. The detrimental effects of open burning at Pockwood …
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February 12, 2020
LETTER— Dump smoke draws fire from STJ
Dear People of the Virgin Islands, Here is a photo of your smoking, burning dump on Monday. Unfortunately, in the United States Virgin Islands, we get to see and …
January 30, 2020
Government working to fire up incinerator
Fires have been burning at Pockwood Pond over the past week, some intentional and some not. The incinerator was fired up again on Friday after more than a year, and …
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December 20, 2019
Pockwood Pond incinerator control panel installed
The new control panel for the nonfunctional Pockwood Pond incinerator has been installed by Consutech Systems LLC, and Skelton Electric Limited is completing the final electrical works, Health and Social …
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October 25, 2019
Incinerator part to be shipped next week
Repairs to the Pockwood Pond incinerator are “in progress,” and a needed part is set to ship next week, Health and Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said last Thursday in …
