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Barbadians Against Waste-to-Energy Plant

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Kammie Holder, Insurance Executive and Advocacy Director Future Centre Trust
Kammie Holder, Insurance Executive and Advocacy Director Future Centre Trust

Public spirited Barbadians have been voicing concern in growing numbers about government’s plan to locate a Waste to Energy Plasma Gasification Plant at Vacluse, St. St. Thomas. Environmental advocate Kammie Holder of the Future Trust has been leading the charge and is responsible for the Facebook page  Bajans Against $700M Waste to Energy Plant. BU joins with Kammie to  invite all civic minded people every where to join the cause. Where there is little transparency by government it requires the citizenry to agitate and participate. What is DEMOCRACY! #‎20000strongbarbados‬

Having received no information from the Government of Barbados  regarding its proposal  to develop a Waste to Energy Facility at the Mangrove Pond Landfill in St. Thomas in the coming months, the people are taking a stand to inform the Government that they do not want the proposed $700M  Plasma Gasification Plant on the island.

Our concerns are:

Petitioning The Government of Barbados Abandon the proposal to build a $700M Plasma Gasification Plant in Barbados

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109 responses to “Barbadians Against Waste-to-Energy Plant”

  1. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Definition of Novation clause

    http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/novation-agreement.html

  2. De Ingrunt Word Avatar
    De Ingrunt Word

    @ Are-We and Prodigal. you both speak to the matter of PM Stuart’s lack of knowledge as suggested by his comments on this matter. You both also seem to be experienced officials on Bdos Gov’t matters so surely you raise these questions to highlight the complete incredulity of such a scenario.

    Of course, as one of you alluded to, there is absolutely no practical way that the leader of this small country could be ignorant of a project that is expected to cost an initial $$ 3/4 Billion and eventually impact the economy in ways profound and mostly unknown.

    Corruption like most things in life comes in two basic varieties: explicit actions deliberately commissioned to achieve the stated goal and on the flip side those acts of omission.

    It seems rather evident that Mr Stuart’s approach is nothing more than his own acts of omission. A particularly wonderful manipulation of the process both internal and public. There are many ways to skin a cat as they say.

    Him being ‘informed’ by Mia Mottley’s expose is even more incredulous but I suppose that we need to play this game and he wants the people to believe that he will be the arbiter of reason and good sense.

    Strategy, political gamesmanship, acts of omission or maybe the most practical way to stop a juggernaut that was rolling way to fast.

    Of course the project will be stopped, now.

    This PM at minimum seems to use the public anger to do the deeds he can’t do directly against his corrupt ministers. Why he can’t stop them himself, a la Owen, is the $$ 3/4 Billion question.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    This PM at minimum seems to use the public anger to do the deeds he can’t do directly against his corrupt ministers. Why he can’t stop them himself, a la Owen, is the $$ 3/4 Billion question.

    Does Stuart have a coat tail like Arthur had?

  4. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    Novation clauses say what the stronger party wants them to say
    Hopefully the goverent lawyer knew what to insist on in the contract language

  5. IntegrityPolice Avatar
    IntegrityPolice

    Racketeers

  6. Sunshine Sunny Shine Avatar
    Sunshine Sunny Shine

    Hahaha I just look at the website. This look like a quick put together by a College Student or one of her children. I would love to know how much money this woman promise to give Dennis Dirty Lowe if the deal is sealed. At 700 million start up and adding the cost overruns, Dirty Lowe and those who are part of the ”Hive of Deals”, will collect millions in secret accounts. I would not be surprise if Jepter Ince, Michael Carrington et el are not part of this deal. What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. Lowe Lowe Lowe

  7. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    De Ingrunt Word;

    PM Stuart is like no other past PM!

    He completely delegated the running of the country to his MInisters.
    He did not want to know what was happening and they obliged while going on self seeking frolics.

    The other interpretation of his seeming inaction on so many fronts is that he indeed knew what was happening and turned a blind eye for temporary protection of his Party while he was at the hellum.

    You asked why couldn’t he proactively stop them?

    Could it be that he is not as replete with integrity as he and the DLP seeks to portray? The alternative to that solution to the Stuart conundrum points inexorably to a personality that eschews reality and we all know how such persons are termed.

    Barbados was doomed from the time DT took up office and introduced his venal band to the Public.

  8. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    Wunna don’t think that SBA could have all rights to the seaweed for its operations to resell to customers as fertilizer. They should be the ones collecting and processing it. But no they want people to bring it to them for a paltry sum and pay them to process it. What a bunch of idiots! They need to bring back on all the people they laid off from the NCC to assist in the clean up if only on a temporary basis. They seem not to want to protect their Tourist investment BUT want to build a state of the art sugar factory to grind rocks.

  9. Bajanfuhlife Avatar
    Bajanfuhlife

    If Mia Mottley had come out in support of a waste to energy plant, some of the “Instant Environmentalists” on this blog would be singing a different tune.
    Yardfowls Squared.

  10. lawson Avatar
    lawson

    Not everyone can be on the fifa board they have to find their own niche, asking questions of certain politicians is highly racist and must stop if they are to focus on the job at hand . Remember “when buying and selling is the job of legislators the first thing bought is the legislators”

  11. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    David

    Unless the GOB inserted a No Change of Ownership clause in the agreements then Clare Cowen could easily achieve her objection of selling the company at any time by simply selling/transferring the shares (Cahill Energy or its parent company) to whomever, even to someone from China, Thailand or Korea.

    There is a reason these plants are mainly built in Asia………………..VERY WEAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Bajanfuhlife

    It was social media asking for transparency in the Cahill pact long before MAM entered the fray. And the issue is about transparency.

    And what is your point?

  13. Fractured BLP Avatar
    Fractured BLP

    Is it true that Mia Mottley was just arrested by police for allegedly molesting a 13 year old girl?

  14. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    Fractured BLP

    Despite you praying for that to be true unfortunately I think Mia is going to be around long enough to be this DLP’s worst nightmare.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @Mitch

    Cahill is the the DLP’s 3S. Same scenario playing out.

  16. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    I am hearing that Cahill and its onshore partners have made it a far more sophisticated transaction, much more so than 3S ever was. At least with 3S there was a National need for the project, Cahill is completely different kettle of fish.

  17. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    Maybe the way out is to prove a default or breach of contract on behalf of Cahill
    It’s been 15 months since the signing
    Surely there was a program of works agreed ???
    Nothing has been done since the signing
    There’s a smoking gun here some where

  18. David E Avatar
    David E

    Hey Rasta man

    Seems yur rite. Caills project manager Kevin o’donell was fired by email in early febuary cause he wuldnt cowtow to her hiness the queen of cahill. she didn’t even have the nerve to do it to his face.

    he was on the island for meetings and she left the guy stranded there. what a coward she is. I might have his contact details. if I can find em I will get em for you

    as for her personal assistant he walked out on her when she was in Barbados a couple of weeks ago. he didn’t want to be a part of her lies and cheating ways. he had enuf of her drunken antiks and couldn’t put up with her anymore. Aparantly he worked for her 15 years ago and went back to her when she started cahill. guess he didn’t get enuf of he bull shiite the first time.

    Good fer him fer getting out and letting her no enuf is enuf. he deserves a metal for putting up wit her Shiite.

    one of her exes told me she is working alone now wit no one to do her dirty work but herself.

  19. David Avatar
    David

    The Prime Minister according to him preferred not to dignify Mottley’s Cahill and other requests for clarify with an answer. If the Cahill project is stopped it will vindicate Mottley wouldn’t it? And we know the PM is driven by decision making of the political kind.

  20. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    The pm need to put aside party politics and protect the people of the island from this Cahill fiasco however he handles it he has a duty to the people to protect us from carpet baggers like this Cowan woman

  21. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    THE SUSTAINED INVASION of local beaches by Sargassum seaweed has forced the Government to all but declare a state of national emergency.
    – See more at: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/69247/seaweed-downright-scary#sthash.uQtsL4Cf.dpuf

  22. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    The greater lesson from the Cahill fiasco is the absence of proper governance and oversight. If one is to believe the stories in the public arena, CS and DB are claiming this is a Dennis Lowe deal, he is responsible for it……….from conception right thru to delivery.

  23. Sunshine Sunny Shine Avatar
    Sunshine Sunny Shine

    @RastaR

    Where at any point since the Fruendel Stuart became PM that he showed he cared about the people of Barbados? If you can give me one example I will send you my full name and a picture.,

  24. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    Meanwhile, Dr. Denis S. Lowe, Minister of Environment was reported as saying: “Cahill Energy offers us a real solution to becoming energy independent, while at the same time reducing our massive oil import bill. Cahill Energy has brought a Waste to Energy option to the Government of Barbados that is far superior to any other we have examined. We believe that our country will be changed forever as a result.” (JMB)

  25. Mitch Sassoon Avatar
    Mitch Sassoon

    “……….. We believe that our country will be changed forever as a result.”

    Lets hope Minister Denis Lowe does not get his way, we could all end up living in a Barbados we don’t recognise and where might not be able to get away from the environmental and health consequences of this dissaster waiting to happen.

  26. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    Sunshine. Sunny shine…..

    Maybe the PM will read this and do his first act of duty for the people
    We can only hope and pray he sees the error of his ministers ways and pull the plug on cahill before we all have to live with their folly.

  27. David E Avatar
    David E

    Hey RastaR

    As promised. You can reech Kevin O’Donell at kevodon@gmail.com

    shure he will be able to give you insite on cahill and its money grubbing ceo

  28. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    Who is the China Waste Energy Group

  29. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    https://barbadosunderground.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/clairecowan-ceo-cahill.jpg?w=603&h=903

    Has anyone seen her lately

  30. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    Only we are to blame for the persons we put in parliament since independence. This Cahill Barbados and Cahill Energy Barbados as well as the role Dr Denis Lowe is playing must be subjected to full scrutiny for this must not be another Greenland. Word making the rounds in the international capital market is Cahill Plasma Gasification Project is a sweetheart thanks to the generous concessions such as price increase guarantee in the electricity cost to the consumer to reflect increased maintenance cost and operations. In case the cabinet ministers and senate don`t know a Plasma Gasification Plant has a high maintenance cost and are prone to breakdown.

    Now this is unbelievable, I was also told that Cahill negotiated for and got a price guarantee for a price increase every three years. If it smells it definitely stinks of poor governance. How can then the Government promise cheaper electricity. How then if Cahill is saying that withing 10 years they can produce 29% of the electricity needed how will Barabados Light & Power recover its capital cost?

    Will this plant be exempt from the Fair Trading Commission regulations or that was another concession? This is one fiasco that will not die a 7 day death.

    Everyone can agree that Barbados needs many Billion dollar capital projects bur not ones which are less than transparent when they are cheaper and more enviromentally friendly alternatives. Clean Governance like Freedom has a personal price and we must all be willing to pay the price.

  31. Exclaimer Avatar
    Exclaimer

    Let us not forget that Barbados will be extracting oil in the near future.

    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2015/jun/25/brazils-gamble-on-deep-water-oil-guanabara-bay

  32. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    These monster gasifers and their exit duct work are lined with refractory brick
    The maintenance on the gasifer is very dependant on how the gasifer works and is operated (not a proven application at this size)
    The repair or replacement of the refsctory means the gasifier has to be taken out of service which means a cooling down period a repair period and a refiring period once repair is made. my cslcs suggest this could take 45 to 50 days on the gasifier allowing for the curing of the refractory.
    What do we do for electricity in the interm??? And that’s just the gasifer !!!
    The exit duct work sees the higest temperature so the likelyhood of a blowout is more likely
    As the NRG gassifier is a single stage single unit have Cahill or NRG allowed for a spare bottom end ???? I bet not.
    The duct work is even a bigger issue if it blows
    1. The syngas will be released to the atmosphere
    The replacement section of duct work could take months to replace and reline.
    People should also know NRG did NOT do the refractory work on the teesvalley project and had nothing to do with the exit duct work Air products did all this work Why????? My guess is NRG couldn’t or wouldn’t guarentee the installation.
    Who will own the process guarantees on the system ??????
    Due diligence my ass!!!!!!!

  33. Due Diligence Avatar
    Due Diligence

    Hey RastaR

    You are doing great research.

    But, please do not use DD’s moniker when referring to gov’t lack of governance.

  34. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    Due diligence
    Sorry
    I was talking about the technical due diligence not the DD poster

  35. David Avatar
    David

    Looks like MAM has gotten Cahill and WtE on the national agenda.

  36. High On A Hill Avatar
    High On A Hill

    david
    that might be so however where is the information? i don’t see the mou, the purchasing power contract and the implementation agreements.

  37. David Avatar
    David

    The reason there is public concern is because the very documents you want To see have been kept away from the public obviously satisfying a NDA. Hopefully it will be leaked!

  38. Carpe diem Avatar
    Carpe diem

    Where would u put them if they were to be leeked?

  39. David Avatar
    David

    Check the top of the page under ‘Confidential Message’. When BU publishes it does so simultaneously on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn.

  40. High On A Hill Avatar
    High On A Hill

    david
    u got some serious capability man. if you get your hands on the agreements before the leader of the opposition then that is testimony to the power of BU

  41. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    The reason there should be public concern may be environmental.

    http://www.dovetailinc.org/workshop_materials/plasma_gasification_presentation.pdf

  42. RastaR Avatar
    RastaR

    To add to the environmental issues.
    Even though the hazardous waste is fed back into the system there will be a highly toxic mix of concentrated hazardous waste which will ultimately have to be disposed of off island anywhere between 1000- 1500 tonnes per year where does this crap get stored in between being disposed of ??? I’m sure that hasn’t been discussed in the EIA and I’m sure our town and country planner will have an opinion on how much and how long we can store this toxic mess prior to shipping it off to somewhere it can be dealt with

  43. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Hants; Did you mean?

    “The reason there should be public concern may NOT be environmental.”

    Your reference above suggests that Plasma gasification is reasonably safe enviromentally but a number of other, similarly authoritative, reports, suggest otherwise.

    The net can provide grist for the mill of all viewpoints.

    Look carefully and you will find some reports that are in concert with your comment above.

  44. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Indeed, the main problem with the Cahill-GOB project is perhaps the fact that the signatories were willing to gamble with Barbados’ future health, economy and survival.

    Any major accident in Barbados would be likely to precipitate dire downstream effects in our water supply, tourism industry, economy and environment. A similar accident in a large developed country could be handled without very significant deleterious effects. In Barbados such an accident would be catastrophic in our mini-island state, dependant on Tourism and with an acquifer based on porous coral stone.

    It was total madness for our people to sign on to a project that would place the largest commercial Plasma gasification plant in the world on our little fragile island especially when that island is frantically trying to balance on a knife edge of deleterious factors that could put us all at risk of becoming 21st century Haitis if just a few went wrong.

    The signatories (and the PM when he heard about it and did not call a halt) knew not what they were doing and made no effort to find out before other concerns overrode everything.

    A figurative pox on all their houses.

  45. Carpe diem Avatar
    Carpe diem

    ?????
    Who on the island has operated a plasma plant before???
    The cement plant is nowhere near as complex
    Will they be imports or will a training programme be put in place
    If it ever gets off the ground shouldn’t the training be starting now
    Seeing the construction is starting in September

  46. Carpe diem Avatar
    Carpe diem

    Tongue in cheek 🙂

  47. David Avatar
    David

    What is interesting so far is the disregard the government has been showing to citizens who have expressed their right to know more about the WtE project. It is worrying.

  48. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    AWTY Jun 29th 4.41pm
    I recall in the Erskine Sandiford administration MoF David Thompson had made a pact with an English investor to purchase Bushy Park and part of the deal was granting permission for a casino.When PM Sandiford was told this,he went pubic and said ‘over my dead body’.The deal as negotiated by Thompson floundered and was heard of no more.Thompson was always a sneaky,dirty piece ‘o work,not to be trusted,yet OSA allowed Thompson and his leper friend to outfox the fox some 12 years later.Sandy had the last laugh however.He is still around to advise Stuart if he is willing to listen or to act on this WTE project.

  49. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    What we may be creating is the biggest Lime Kiln in the Caribbean. Dust to Dust and Ashes to Ashes.

  50. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    David wrote “the disregard the government has been showing”.

    This has been the pattern of Barbados governments for the last 50 years.

    If they find Investors to spend $700 million to build the WTE plant I would be surprised.

    Barbados needs “cash flow” but a WTE plant appears to be an unacceptable (environmental ) risk on a 166 sq. mile island.

    Buh doan mine me. I am just a layman writing shite.

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