Repairing damaged incinerator is ‘like pulling teeth’

Repairs to the damaged Pockwood Pond incinerator have been described as “like pulling teeth” by Health Minister Vincent Wheatley, who recently acknowledged long-standing challenges in addressing waste management in the BVI.

Despite these struggles, he assured residents that progress was being made. “We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Wheatley said in the House of Assembly. “We’re trying our utmost best to get the incinerator up and working.” The incinerator, which has been out of operation since a catastrophic fire in 2021, is undergoing extensive repairs, with the final parts expected to arrive soon. Wheatley hoped the facility would resume operations “sooner rather than later.”

He thanked the Department of Waste Management, led by Marcus Solomon, and the contractors for their efforts in mitigating the situation’s impact. “There hasn’t been a single fire at Pockwood Pond for 2024. I must thank Mr Solomon and his team and all the contractors who are abiding by the rules to ensure that the people in the West are really relieved,” he said.