When I first arrived on Bequia in the 70’s garbage as we know it today really didn’t exist. A plastic bag was something one treasured, and it was used time and time again. The shops didn’t have bags, you took your own and guarded it carefully. They were no Styrofoam containers and plastic straws were a luxury item. When a child was told to clean the front yard it was understood that he was to clear away leaves and fallen branches, there were no toys to pick up and certainly no junk-food wrappers.
Gradually the modern world started to catch up with the Island, and although we welcomed more choice at the grocery stores the introduction of REAL garbage began to be an issue. I can recall the very first plastic bags used at the stores, they were white with a big red heart on them with letters that said “I Love New York”. They were available at Crosby’s Store and shoppers felt rather posh when they left with such a treasure. Old-timers on Bequia still call plastic handle bags “I Love” bags, I know I do!
The garbage dump was located in the harbor just past the gas station. There was not yet a market square or boutiques, just an eyesore that got progressively worse as the garbage accumulated. In earlier years when the dump was lit the nuisance of the smoke was minimal; with noxious plastics burning the smoke was toxic, and would waft through the Harpoon Saloon before creeping over the yachts in the harbor. The dump smelled terrible and attracted flies, and together with the smoke it was driving the yachts away.
Son Mitchell called Mac and me one morning to tell us that the Canadian Government was going to fund the removal of the existing dump and pay for the creation of a new one. They were also going to build a fish and vegetable market and a building for boutiques, all of which would surround a pleasant waterfront square. This fell on happy ears, the dump was a serious problem that needed to be addressed before tourism died on Bequia. The Prime Minister asked Mac and me to take the Canadian delegation around the Island to five different locations that had been earmarked as possible sites for the new dump, and gave us a rough map indicating the spots.
That evening Mac and I sat over the map shaking our heads. The proposed sites were located in areas that had poor access, and although each location was remote and therefore a plausible place for a dump the lack of roads would be an issue. We were therefore pleasantly surprised the next day when the Canadian men told us they would build the access road once we had decided on a location for the new dump.
Setting out in Mama’s jeep we drove as close to the sites as possible, then Mac hacked a trail with his cutlass as we hiked. Those proposed sites were not easy to get to! Each time we arrived at our destination the Canadians would exclaim over the beautiful view, then shake their heads sadly. Every time they did this my heart sank, I figured they were worried about the cost of the access road. We spent the entire morning in pursuit of the perfect dump spot, and got back to the Frangipani hot and thirsty.
Sitting down with the Prime Minister, the Canadian delegation said that all the proposed dump sites were lovely, TOO lovely. Each offered a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea, and for them that was a major stumbling block. They could not in good conscience be responsible for creating a dump site where future generations might someday want to build homes, and as far as they could see pretty well all vantage spots on Bequia had glorious views. In the end the Canadian Government paid for the removal and reclamation of the dump in the Harbor and funded the construction of the market square. The choice of the location and subsequent creation of the new dump was left to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
To make a long story short, this is why the dump was moved to its present location at Spring. Our Government couldn’t afford to build roads to the other more remote locations, and chose the landfill spot accordingly. The dump had its teething problems, and although it is now competently run by the Solid Waste Management sector its location leaves a lot to be desired. I can understand why the Canadians backed away from the creation of a new location, but every time I drive past the dump at Spring I think to myself, “what a pity!”