As efforts continue to reduce the impact of Zika within the Territory, boat owners are being asked to secure their vessels by either turning them over or cover them with tarpaulin to reduce mosquito breeding.

Manager of Waste Management, Mr. Greg Massicote said, “Derelict boats are causing a lot of problems right now especially in Jost Van Dyke. Recently a team of individuals from the Department of Waste Management tagged 18 derelict boats on Jost Van Dyke.  We are waiting for those tags to expire so we can legally remove the boats.”

Medical Officer of Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ronald Georges explained, “Derelict and abandoned boats contribute significantly to mosquito breeding.  We find the mosquito indices are high in areas where there are a lot of abandoned and derelict boats.  Therefore we are encouraging boat owners to secure their boats.”

Dr. Georges said, “If we are to reduce the impact of Zika within the Territory, everyone needs to play their part.  The messages are simple; eliminate mosquito breeding sites, conduct weekly surveillance in and around homes and businesses, and employ personal prevention tactics like wearing long and loose fitting clothing and using mosquito repellent products.”

The Department of Waste Management is committed to ensuring that the natural beauty of the Territory is enhanced by utilising state of the art waste management technology to ensure timely collection, disposal and where possible, the recycling of waste.