OPPOSITION Spokesperson on Health Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte yesterday labelled as premature statements by the Ministry of Health that there will be no long-term effects from the Riverton dump fire.

“It is irresponsible to [come to a] conclusion on the matter before all the facts are known. We saw a similar irresponsible approach to CHIKV [when] the public was led to believe that the effects would be minimal, but today many citizens are still suffering,” Malahoo-Forte said in a statement.

The Opposition spokesman, meanwhile, has expressed concerned about the potential fallout from the fire, which has blanketed many parts of the Kingston and St Andrew area with smoke.

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

are completed],” said Malahoo- Forte.

The Opposition spokesperson said she was “also troubled” about the state of communities which are situated on the dump.

She said: “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.”

She was also adamant that the solution for the dump is ultimate relocation and reform of the way refuse

is managed through privatisation and public- private partnerships, while lashing the Government for what she said was negligence in managing the dump and protecting the people of the country.