Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on health authorities to investigate reports of pollution caused by a local distillery, saying residents have complained about a strong odor coming from the facility.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM, Browne said he instructed the Ministry of Health and the Central Board of Health (CBH) to take immediate action to assess the situation and ensure the company complies with environmental and public health standards.
“I have asked the health authorities to look into it,” Browne said. “That distillery is polluting the environment — you can smell it from a distance, and that is not acceptable.”
The prime minister said the government welcomes private enterprise but warned that businesses cannot operate at the expense of public well-being.
“We support business, yes,” he said. “But no business should be allowed to pollute and make people sick. They have to meet certain minimum standards.”
“We cannot have people suffering from the stench or any emissions from these facilities,” he said. “The CBH and the Ministry of Health must move swiftly on this.”
The prime minister linked the matter to his administration’s broader national cleanup and beautification campaign, which aims to improve sanitation, remove derelict properties, and promote a healthier living environment across the country.
