St. Mary’s Mayor Steve Ryan is pleased with the provincial government’s response to-date as fears grow over the continued deterioration of the old fish sauce plant.
The abandoned structure was heavily damaged in high winds on Friday, leaving the front of the building completely open to the elements.
A woman who lives closest to the plant has moved to another location for the time being, and an emergency plan is in place if things should get worse.
Ryan says with more high winds in the forecast today, his greatest fear is that the roof will come off the building.
“Over the past 48 hours the front blew out of the building, so that leaves the building totally exposed now. especially with the high winds coming with the roof, we have fear that the roof may leave the building.”
Also of concern is the toxic and stinking mess left to putrefy for the last two decades. He says if the building collapses, there’ll be nothing to block the smell from affecting the community including nearby Dunne Academy.
Ryan says he’s been in regular contact with Municipal Affairs Minister Chris Tibbs throughout the weekend and a contingent of government officials will be in St. Mary’s today to assess the situation.
He admits he had some fears with the change of government, knowing that money had been allotted for a cleanup in the last budget, but “they’re after being phenomenal.”
“Minister Tibbs, I’ve got to throw a bouquet to him, he’s after calling me nine times in the past 24-36 hours. There’s going to be three different departments here on site…we have a consultant going to be here, and we have a company that’s going to stabilize the building and do some of the cleanup here too on site.”
Earlier story
The St. Mary’s town council is meeting today with government now that their worst fears over the abandoned fish sauce plant are coming to fruition.
Strong winds Friday night left one side of the dilapidated structure open to the elements, and residents living close to the building have been asked to evacuate with more high winds in the forecast today and tonight.
Mayor Steve Ryan and his council have been lobbying for years to have the building, and the toxic mess left inside, cleaned up. The former government allotted funding in last year’s budget to have the site cleaned up and contaminants properly disposed of.
Municipal Affairs Minister Chris Tibbs, who was in conversation with the mayor throughout the weekend, calls the situation a “clear priority” for government. He says active discussions have taken place with various departments to “ensure the safe and secure disposal” of organic waste at the site – namely vats of toxic fish sauce.
Tibbs and officials from the departments of environment, municipal affairs, and transportation will travel to St. Mary’s today to meet with the mayor and council.
