KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Health Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte has labelled premature, statements by the Ministry of Health that there will be no long-term effects from the Riverton dump fire.

“It is irresponsible to conclude on the matter before all the facts are known. We saw a similar irresponsible approach to CHIKV. The public was led to believe that the effects would be minimal but today many citizens are still suffering,” Malahoo Forte said in a Jamaica Labour Party media release issued Tuesday afternoon.

She said that she was concerned about the potential fallout from the fire, which has blanketed many parts of the Corporate Area.

“Children have been exposed in schools, playgrounds and in their homes. We need to find out what has been left on the ground. We hope there will be no long-term effect but we cannot now conclude, as we do not have all the information.”

The Opposition spokesperson added that: “The ministry should investigate the impact of exposure to various elements that are continuously emitted at the site, even though most of the times the emissions do not impact wider surrounding areas. A study must be done on the communities that are closest to the dump. The results would be instructive”.

Senator Malahoo Forte insisted that the solution for the dump is ultimate relocation and reform of the way refuse is managed through privatisation and Public Private Partnerships. She said that the Government has so far been negligent in managing the dump and protecting the people of the country.