Riu Ocho Rios Polluting the Sea with Sewage?!?!

[Heidi]

EEEEWWWWWW!!!!!!! I really hope that's not true!!!

[PrecisePlans]

Oh My...........Not good at all!!!

[MsShelley]

that is definitely not good....

[Cherie]

I'm hoping NEPA won't shut down the resort for any amount of time...my wedding is in 3 1/2 months!

[Cherie]

I guess we'll just have to follow the issue in the Jamaica Gleaner. How did you happen upon the article? My travel agent is sending it off to the 'sales people' and looking into it for me; hopefully everything will be ok. I'll keep you posted on what I find out.

 

By the way Mo, did you receive my email that I sent you last week enquiring about your itinerary booklet? If you didn't mind, I was interested in obtaining a copy and of course paying for shipping.

 

Thanks,

Cherie

[chicago88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoBride This article in the Jamaica Gleaner reports the Riu is being taken to court for allegedly polluting the sea with sewage. I hope it's not true. The article did not sound too good to me, but here it is: Mammee Bay owners to sue hotel over beach breaches published: Sunday | September 23, 2007 Devon Evans, Sunday Gleaner Writer A section of the RIU hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The hotel is one of several being built by Spanish investors on the island. - File St. Ann: Members of the board of Mammee Bay Beach Club, representing owners of properties in the Mammee Bay Estate, in St. Ann, say they will be taking court action against the operators of the Riu Hotel for breaches of the Environmental Act. The decision to take the operators of the hotel to court stems from a long-standing dispute over the frequent pollution of the Mammee Bay Beach by sewage and other waste waters allegedly coming from the hotel. Chairman of the board of the Mammee Bay Beach Club, Ken Thompson, said the club had utilised all amicable means of getting the hotel to discontinue the alleged pollution of the beach without any success, and that the only other option was to take the matter to court. He claimed that the latest incident took place on Thursday morning when residents of the community were prevented from having their regular early-morning swim because the entire beach was flooded with discoloured waste water, believed to be coming from the hotel. Thompson said several of the residents have been complaining of skin rashes after bathing in the sea. He is questioning why the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has not taken any action with regard to this problem the agency has been aware of the situation for many months. Entry blocked When The Sunday Gleaner news team visited Mammee Bay on Thursday, a cesspool emptier, escorted by a representative of NEPA, was seen making its way towards the beach. But their entry was blocked by security guards who insisted they should await the arrival of members of the press. On the beach, a tractor was seen scraping up discoloured sand, which was then used as a barrier to prevent further leakage of effluent on to the beach. There were also personnel from the Riu Hotel using a water pump to transmit water into a hole dug out by the tractor. Board member of the club, Herbert Murdock, described the management of Riu Hotel as arrogant and disrespectful of the ordinary Jamaican people. He said for over a year, they have been bringing the matter to the attention of the hotel and that litigation seemed the only sensible recourse to the illegal and unhealthy practice. Murdock pointed out that, since the construction of the hotel over two years ago, members of his board had been carrying out tests of the waste water polluting the beach and that the results had shown that the bacteria level was way higher than normal and that further evidence was manifested by the effects the water has had on the skin on bathers. Up to press time yesterday, The Sunday Gleaner was unable to get a response from the management of Riu Hotel.

That is so gross....I hope it's not true. Keep us updated if you find out anything from your TA.

[Jerzzygirl]

Just what I needed to hear less then a week from leaving. You know whats weird though.... EVERY post on trip advisor and all the other online review boards the posters talk about the beach and water being so beautiful and perfect. Including when I was there. I hope its straightened out by next week. I AM SOOOOOOOO LOOKING FOWARD TO being back at this beach.

[starchild]

Ouch! All I can say is that when I was there in June the water was spectacular and we spent hours each day in it and had no problems. I agree with Jerzzygirl, I would kill to be on that beach right now!!! Here's hoping it's not entirely true.