Authorities in Antigua have successfully contained a hazardous contaminant leakage from Cooks Landfill into marine environments near Hansons Bay. The incident, initially detected on February 12, prompted immediate activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and implementation of containment protocols outlined in the National Marine Pollution Manual.
Following the discovery reported to Antigua Port Authority’s Pilot Station, the National Marine Pollution Committee convened an emergency meeting last Friday. The multi-agency response involved strategic deployment of containment booms around Pearns Point to prevent further spread of pollutants. Simultaneously, the Department of Analytical Services conducted comprehensive water quality assessments while imposing temporary restrictions on fishing and recreational activities in the affected coastal zone.
The coordinated effort involved numerous government entities including the National Office of Disaster Services, Ministries of Health, Tourism, Legal Affairs and Agriculture, Department of Environment, West Indies Oil Company, Department of Marine Services, Defence Force, Coast Guard, Fisheries Division, and the Meteorological Office.
While the NEOC has now scaled down its emergency operations, environmental monitoring continues pending final water quality test results. Officials have formulated several policy recommendations to prevent future occurrences, emphasizing enhanced resource allocation to Solid Waste management departments for improved waste disposal infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.