Videos: Post-Fire Press Conferences
[Updated] A press conference was held this morning [Mar.30] to provide updates after the blaze that ripped through the Marsh Folly Composting Facility last night.
Officials have not determined the cause of the fire, which started just past 8pm and involved two areas of horticultural waste on fire – one measuring 50ft x 60ft, the other measuring approximately 60ft x 200ft – and took 17 fire vehicles, and 60-70 personnel to control.
Update 5.44pm: The video below is of the second press conference held at 4pm today.
Health Minister Zane Desilva’s full statement follows below:
Good afternoon everyone,
Managing this situation obviously calls for close collaboration between all sectors of the community: from first responders and emergency service workers to social services workers, health care personnel and every member of the community. It is reassuring to witness the cooperation and efforts to contain the problem and address its short term and long term consequences.
In the short term, the Department of Health has taken several actions to support the work of the other Ministries in addressing the community’s need.
The Community Health Workers will continue their scheduled visits to clients without interruption of the usual weekend coverage.
Our Chief Nursing Officer, Ms. Gaynell Hayward, is organizing staff to provide the usual health presence in the shelter at the Berkeley Institute. Efforts are being made to secure nursing staff for the next 48 hours to be present, on a rotational basis. In these situations, minor medical concerns arise and can be assessed by these health care professionals on site and referred as needed.
However, we encourage individuals with significant medical complaints to be seen by their doctors for care before arriving at the shelter. Those with significant symptoms should, of course, attend the emergency room at the hospital.
All individuals on prescription medications should remember to bring their medications with them if they are leaving their homes for the shelter or for alternative accommodations during the weekend. There will be refrigeration available at the Berkeley shelter for storing medications.
General health advice for circumstances of air contamination are as follows:
All individuals should make every effort to avoid the regions of the island directly affected by smoke from the fire. However, those individuals with pre-existing heart or lung conditions should take extra precautions in this regard.
All individuals should avoid exercising outdoors in regions affected by smoke until air quality can be assured.
In addition, individuals with known heart or lung problems, including asthma and emphysema, should pay attention to their symptoms, and should be extra careful with taking their prescription medications as prescribed.
It is important that families to be particularly attentive to the health status of young children, to their senior relatives, and to those with pre-existing health conditions, as mentioned. Over the next few days we may see an increase in symptoms for those predisposed to allergies and asthma, or reactive airway diseases.
Thankfully, there has not been an increase noted by our Department of Health clinics today.
The KEMH Emergency Department confirms that a few individuals were seen in the past 12 hours with respiratory complaints which they felt were related to smoke exposure. Fortunately, as of this afternoon, there have been no hospitalizations due to the situation.
The Environmental Health Section of the Department has been on alert and will be shortly conducting random water testing in the
affected regions. Individual tank water assessments are not indicated at this time, but rather will be addressed when the acute situation has been fully addressed.
I want to thank all those Ministries and individuals who have come together, and especially the members of the Bermuda Fire Service, for all that they have done to address this situation.
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National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief’s full statement follows below:
Good afternoon everyone. After last night’s incredible scene of the Marsh Folly site fully ablaze, I must begin by commending Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Vincent Hollinsid and all ranks of the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service for handling this serious fire professionally and efficiently.
The response was swift, the judgment sound and the results speak for themselves. The Bermuda Police Service provided important traffic and crowd control and troops from the Bermuda Regiment have been tasked to assist at the site. The inter-agency co-operation has been excellent.
Last night was a sleepless one for many people in the area and we continue to go door to door to determine that affected area residents are safe and that their needs are being met. The Government is marshalling all necessary agencies to be available for those in need. In the first instance, from 6pm this evening, the gymnasium at the Berkeley Institute will be equipped to provide emergency shelter.
Those persons wishing to use the service provided can access the gym from Berkeley Road and parking is available at the school field. The shelter will provide a hot meal, the chance to rest and shower and will remain available 24 hours a day. The Salvation Army has again answered the call to support this effort and we are extremely grateful.
My colleague Minister Desilva will provide information from the environmental health perspective.
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Can anyone tell me who the guy is in the back row texting!:)
NOT A GREAT Government message to our youth – wouldn’t you agree. It was very distracting and I am not sure why he was there!
Bro what the hell you high as a kite from the trash. Why you on the BB the whole speech. You showing no respect, so take off the green tie and wear the OBA new one.
Who is the star on his Blackberry???
He must be very important if he could not put the phone down for a few minutes.
Shouldn’t He Be fined $500 for using a hand held device while the conference is in motion???
who knows but he has a green tie on… nuff said.
He’s probably texting his friends saying “Hey you lot um on tv, um a star!”
lmao. That’s what I would do, no lie
Wonderful. The fire is out. Well…almost. There are still tons of stuff there. What happens to it now?
That guy with the PLP green tie is on his smart phone for the entire 7+ minutes! What is so darn important that he can’t given the speakers the courtesy of his full attention?
On another note, why is that guy playing Brickbreaker in the middle of a Press Conference????
Great Fire of Rome July 16, A.D. 64.
Nero Fiddled while Rome Burned.
@ Starman, the man with whom you are referring is Dr Lou Edward Matthews. Most likely he is conversing with the one of his colleagues with reference to the Fire at the dump.
So that you are aware, Dr Matthews was sending BB messges and BB blasts to 100′s perople (using non-traditional methods) to ensure that I along with people had the correct information. From about 2 am this morning.
So that you are aware, BB’s are a tool of Business. Look at the big picture and stop being myopic looking for the hole in the doughnut….
The hole in the doughnut is what the PLP leaves for the people.
LOLOLOL
@ Lou and Doctor – Thank you so much for your posts, cause honestly, some people don’t realize how much they make themselves seem so clearly “you know what”.
Anyone in tuned with Bermuda and our successful, prominent, highly educated – quite capable of maintaining DEGREES to the hightest level – (tell them Lou!) will clearly have know that this well-respected young gentleman is no other than our wonderful Dr. Lou Matthews!
Honestly people, it seems you must educate yourselves of persons of importance within our community, first, before you make yourselves so ignorant to the max!
Oh, I forgot, “Bermudians” are lazy, uneducated, unskilled, and unteachable failures that some have the nerve to try and convince any who will believe such rhetoric.
Anyway, Go Bermuda!
Congrats! to all who were involved to maintain the fire and keep the community safe! We appreciate you all!
Firstly the person on the Blackberry was Dr. Matthews, I was at the press conference. Whilst it may look like he was doodling on the blackberry actually, whe was getting school updates, meaning the closures and the full numbers affected.
He then had to take the information and get it out during the the press conference.
It is so easy to judge.
But he was working for the people!
Are we certain the “star” was not checking updated information sent to him that was to be shared in this press conference? This story in progress and the details, I’m sure, are still being worked out regarding the outcomes of those involved and affected.
BTW if you look he’s not typing but scrolling as though he is reading.
It’s as though some persons sit at home waiting for the opportunity to negatively comment on here – regardless of the story.
I hope it was a Digicel Phone
The gentleman in the back row did not speak during the presentation, clearly he did not need to – since he and 7 other people were there out of 65,000 it stands to reason that he was aware of why he was at the location and unlike us already knew the substance of the Press Release, so it would stand to reason that he was using his BB to keep abreast with the other responsibilities that he had to delay in his diary in order to stand up for a Press Conference which in the end told us very little that we didnt already know about “The Fire”.
Sad that people are using Bernews to get the man in the back row “Fired” or written up.
Very sad.
No more Pork I say.
Then his a$$ did not need to be on camera!!! Morons!!
Tsk, tsk, tsk… Jealousy, jealousy, jealousy…oh well,
Good job Bermuda! We’ve once again pulled together as a great community!
Love you all, you’ve made us proud!
Spread the positive vibes!
Cheers for TEAM BERMUDA!!!!
Jealou$y of wat?
Jealousy?? How about ignorance.. On your boys part mate.
Thanks for clearing that up. ‘Star’ was used only because I didnt see or hear his name mentioned and he kind of was the star of the show…even if it wasnt planned that way. No disrespect was meant.
From the intertubes:
“Dr. Lou Edward Matthews is Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education and Coordinator of the Initial Teacher Preparation program in Middle Childhood Education in Mathematics and Science Education in the Department of Middle-Secondary Education and Instructional Technology at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Dr. Matthews has been involved in mathematics education in the United States and Bermuda for the past 15 years. He has been a part of several major U.S. efforts to impact mathematics achievement outcomes for African American students, and in this capacity, Dr. Matthews addresses audiences of parents, teachers and students, as well as professional groups throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States and in Bermuda.
Dr. Matthews continues to conduct research both nationally and internationally and has published in several notable international journals. His research focuses on how teachers incorporate visions of culturally relevant teaching into practice, as well as with the critical examination of mathematics reform ideology, Black masculinity and schooling, and teacher experiences in the context of reform. Dr. Matthews is currently serving as the 2007-2009 President of the Benjamin Banneker Association, a national non-profit organization advocating excellence in mathematics for Black students. He has served as a member of several national committees including the Emerging Issues Committee and the Equity Coalition of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Dr. Matthews has recently co-founded iTEACH (Institute of Teaching Excellence, Action and Change), an international organization aimed at promoting development, advancement, and innovation in the learning and teaching. He is also co-founder and currently inaugural editor-in-chief of the Journal of Urban Mathematics Education, a new online journal committed to the scholarship of engagement in mathematics in urban communities.”
You are welcome.
I, for one, am pleased to see that someone of Dr Matthew’s standing is a part of the Dept of Education team.
Correction: Dr Matthews’
Yes, & he is doing a great job. Look at the standard of public school education.
Why all the reference to “African-American students” and “black masculinity”. Isn’t he supposed to be a math educator? Does 2+2 give a different answer depending upon your pigmentation?
And why was he at the press conference concerning a fire at the dump? I know the symbolism of a fire at the dump and Bermuda’s educational results are hard to resist so I’ll just bite my tongue.
That’s right! You tell ‘em!
Go, Bermuda!
We are excellent! We will always be high achievers! And we will continue to be great leaders. We are successful Bermudians!
Tell ‘em, tell ‘em, tell ‘em!
Speak greatness over your people, for some are striving for the opposite!
@ family man, eat the doughnut and there will be no more hole:
Well done. Another non-Bermudian CONSULTANT for the Ministry of Education. Want a hero cookie for all that? Obviously not a Dr. in press conference etiquette!
Dr. Lou Edward Matthews is the Director of Educational Standards and Accountability for the Bermuda Department of Education. A former assistant professor of mathematics education in the College of Education at Georgia State University, his work as a public scholar, commentator, organizer, writer, speaker, and CONSULTANT has focused on excellence, innovation, and leadership in education at local, national, and international levels in the United States and Bermuda for the past 20 years. Dr. Matthews continues to conduct research both nationally and internationally and has published in several notable international journals. His research focuses on how teachers incorporate visions of culturally relevant teaching into practice, as well as with the critical examination of mathematics reform ideology, Black masculinity and schooling, and teacher experiences in the context of reform. He has served as a member of several national committees including the Emerging Issues Committee and the Equity Coalition of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Dr. Matthews is a past President of the Benjamin Banneker Association(2007-2009), a national non-profit organization advocating excellence in mathematics for Black students. Dr. Matthews is co-founder and founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Urban Mathematics Education (JUME).
@Truth:
The first part of your quote states that Dr Matthews is the Director of Educational Standards. The CONSULTANT text you highlighted is contained in a list of other roles he has performed. Are you sure he is being paid to act as a consultant in Bermuda?
Regarding the BB, this is the 21st century, and in the coming years everyone can expect to see more technology being used in all situations. Dr Matthews wasn’t speaking in the clip posted here, so what’s is the big deal?
So why was he there? In case someone asked Derrick a math question?
My bad. The byes a Bermudian CONSULTANT. Now he just needs to get the etiquette in check. I quote from a recent speech “Bermuda seems to have lowered its standards and not expect our students to perform at a high level.” Lead by example. That’s all I have to say on that.
yeah buddy!!..
You stupid Bermudians always quick to judge does it look like he was texting? Dumb a$$es always trying to criticize and start sh!t, can’t it just be about country and people for a change.
And before you start commenting yes I am a Bermudian
Back to the fire. That grand on the scene press conference with everyone & their brother attending, all looking very important, gave us no more information that was not already known before they all gathered in front of the cameras.
What next? We were told “never again” after the last fire. If it was not lit intentionally by somebody from W&E it pretty much says ARSON. Why dance around it?
What happens to all the partially burn trees now? It will stink for weeks. Should have let it burn. It would be out by now smelling like last nights campfire instead of damp burnt wood.
It’s a pure disgrace that this scenario was allowed to happen again , I sure hope the folks in the area are compensated to the full
And that compensation will be paid by you, the taxpayer.
That’s right they wasted enough on who know what at least it will be put to good cause this time
Everyone should have their tanks clean in the area and provided with bottled water that’s right first class not economy and throw in a lobsta dinner too!
Who gives a crap who was on their phone during the press conference. What I wanna know is why was there solid horticulture waste there, is the chipper machine working? Its easy to blame underground combustion but if tree branches etc weren’t sitting their it may not have been as bad or have started at all. Of course no accountability.
Lou,
Dont let these people annoy or distract you from your WORK.
they need not know the work that took place in the Departments of Education and Public works between 8pm Thursday night and 10am Friday morning.
These are the same people who expect the OBA or PLP will take Bermuda to the promised land.
Scared of our own Shadow.
laverne…Laverne……ha! she doesn’t comment on this stuff cause she wish’s she could have had some limelight, in this cleverly orchestrated PLP election crap
There must be a shortage of toilet paper in the shops. Can’t believe the effort put into the guy on his phone.
It is a nice little diversion since Burgess & the rest did not tell us anything new to chew on.
BB guy? Well he is no different than so many people full of self important people who cannot leave the device alone for more than 5 minutes. It is not called a crackberry for nothing. Pityiful watching people walking down the street with their heads buried in the things.
No, I don’t have a smartphone. I have 5 year old cellphone on minimum time that is seldom used.
Dats ya business!! U probably still drive a horse and carriage also… Lol
Since it may have been a cigarette that caused the fire, is LaVerne going to call for a ban on cigarettes? She will look great smoking a pipe.
This crap is an envioronment issue and looks like the minister fell asleep on this issue , what a mess they are running there it should not have been allowed to happen since last time. I guess they were riding their luck .
So are they just gonna pile the crap up again and hope it does not happen once more?
This is one hilariosu thread! Can’t believe what I am reading…ONLY IN BERMUDA! ALTHOUGH IT IS TRUE DR. MATTHEW SHOULDN’T BE IN THE VIDEO!!! THAT IS THAT!
*HILARIOUS