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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesSmith Bay Residents Are Hacking and Coughing

Smith Bay Residents Are Hacking and Coughing

Dear Source:
I doubt that any of us business owners or residents (or sometimes both) between Coki Point and Sugar Bay has a problem with understanding the necessity of this project and I think I speak for the majority in that we've all been most understanding about the traffic disruptions, with the construction crews parking up on private property with no, "by your leave" – and that's all been addressed in neighbourly fashion.
But we have a major problem at hand in our 'hood which needs addressing IMMEDIATELY – dust, dirt, dust, dirt and more dust and dirt.
I really didn't mind hosing down my car before doing my errands and I sort of didn't mind that when I wiped off the interior surfaces in my business establishment that the paper towels were black in a heartbeat and I used up almost a whole roll to get everything clean. I almost didn't mind that, when the guys finally left every day, I had to hose down the outside of my place.
What I DO mind was that nothing was or has been done to mitigate the dust. The business across the street from me is wide open and the dust was churning around. Not only was the lady who runs the place sitting there with a mask on her face but I had to leave quickly because I'd already been coughing for days. She finally did close up the place two hours early today. My customers left here coughing and sneezing tonight, plus their cars were covered in grime; my bartender left here coughing and walked with a sodden paper towel to clean off her windshield; everybody who has driven through Smith Bay today will awaken tomorrow to find their car totally smothered with grime; my animals are snorfing from foul air and I am not feeling too well.
We are on a busy main road here. The dirt and dust is flying, we are coughing like mad. With all the amount of money being spent on this project, is it too much to ask or demand that more money be spent by having a large water truck finish up the next daily 6 foot section by doing a major deluge?
I'll be calling DPW and WAPA tomorrow. In the meantime I guess I'll just hack and cough my way to sleep!
Anna Clarke
St. Thomas

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