Fitches Creek Residents Association Condemns Illegal Dumping in Fitches Creek Linked to a Credit Union

Press statement

The Fitches Creek Residents Association (FCRA) condemns the illegal dumping of waste items in Fitches Creek which bore the Community First Cooperative Credit Union’s (CFCCU) name, logo and address.

A concerned resident raised the alarm upon noticing the discarded boxes, which included documents clearly labeled with the credit union’s name.

The FCRA has reported the incident to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and their inspectors promptly visited the site on September 11th, 2024. In addition to the environmental concerns, the residents are particularly alarmed that a financial institution would not take better care to ensure that their waste documents reach the landfill.

Clement Samuel, the Chairperson of the Fitches Creek Residents’ Association, said, “The improper disposal of waste including boxes and materials of a financial institution is deeply troubling. Our community values both environmental preservation and security, and this incident threatens both.” He added, “We call for immediate action from the Community First Credit Union and relevant authorities to rectify this situation and ensure that it is not repeated. We are open to working with corporate partners to increase their accountability for their waste disposal and are in the process of engaging the financial institution.”

The FCRA is actively working to prevent illegal dumping in Fitches Creek as part of a broader ongoing project aimed at preserving the environment.

The Project Manager, Britney McDonald, stated, “Businesses paying service providers to dump waste must take all necessary steps in their due diligence of waste disposal. Requesting proof of delivery before final payment is one way to ensure the waste makes it to the landfill instead of into our communities.”

She continued, “Illegal dumping is not an isolated issue for Fitches Creek, but our community is taking a strong stand. Waste disposal is a health hazard and threatens our already sensitive ecosystems as a Small Island Developing State impacted by climate change.”

Meanwhile, the FCRA has also requested bulk waste clean-up days to support its ongoing project which, among other things, aims to keep the Fitches Creek Community free of waste from illegal dumping.

In order to effectively address this challenge, swift action is required by the local authorities when such incidents occur. The FCRA is committed to working with the NSWMA and all other stakeholders to uphold the law and preserve the environment.

Fitches Creek is part of the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA), which is an environmentally protected area.

The FCRA has undertaken to help safeguard the environment through the project “Building a Community Constituency for Conservation in the Fitches Creek Bay and NEMMA.” Dumping of this nature not only harms the health of the community but negatively impacts the wetland ecosystems and endangers local wildlife such as the West Indian Whistling Duck.

The FCRA urges all businesses, and particularly those handling sensitive information, to adopt responsible waste management practices and comply with environmental regulations to avoid such breaches of trust and community standards. Interested businesses can partner with the FCRA to support its community work and the protection of the Fitches Creek Bay and the NEMMA.