Ascension : Dumping Of Food By Solomon's Georgetown Shop
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 03.02.2005 (Article Archived on 17.02.2005)
Dear Ms Dillon - I am writing this letter as a result of an event that I, and several others, witnessed on Wednesday 19 January 2005.
 
THE RESIDENCY, GREEN MOUNTAIN, ASCENSION ISLAND, SAO, ASCN 1ZZ
Ms N Dillon,
Solomon’s Shop
Georgetown
Ascension Island
24 January 2005
Dear Ms Dillon
I am writing this letter as a result of an event that I, and several others, witnessed on Wednesday 19 January 2005.
I watched a government lorry being filled with items coming from the Solomon’s shop in Georgetown. These items included many loaves of local bread, milk, juice, sweets, chocolates, crisps, flour etc. On enquiring about the contents of the lorry and where the contents were going, I was, to my horror, informed that the goods were destined for the One Boat dump. This I confirmed by taking the attached photographs showing the items being buried and NOT burned.
I would like to know why the food was allowed to deteriorate to this stage without every effort being made to sell it. Where did all that local bread come from? I cannot count how many days I, and many others, have entered the shop in the afternoon and been unable to buy local bread as it has been sold out. How can it possibly be more cost effective to pay government dump food rather than exhaust all avenues in the attempt to sell the food before the ‘sell by’ date?
The current price increases in the store, in light of these events, are unjustifiable. Whilst the freight shipping charge for the RMS St Helena has increased, the South African goods on sale in the shop are known to be over priced. Using this excuse to raise yet more revenue to conceal the colossal waste of produce, due to inefficient ordering and ineffective marketing, is unacceptable. How can this be justified?
This behaviour makes your response to the comments posed in last week’s Islander embarrassing and void. The dumping of food that arrives on the Island in a poor condition is regrettable but understandable. The dumping of food left to become inedible, in a world where many are starving, is indefensible.
Please address your reply to the Islander as there are many citizens of Ascension Island who would like to know and understand your response to the dumping issue.
Yours sincerely,
Bernadette Kettlewell, Mrs.
Solomon’s Georgetown Shop
Ascension Island, South Atlantic
Tel 00247 6320, Fax 00247 6785
Solomons-Trading@atlantis.co.ac
The Editor,
The Islander,
Georgetown
6 February, 2005
Dear Editor,
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to respond to Mrs Kettlewell’s article. I will not be providing a response at this stage.
Yours sincerely
Nicola Dillon
Manager, Georgetown Shop
Registered in England & Wales, Reg. No. 496276
To the Editor
Dumping Of Food
I have received an email stating that there will be an article in the Islander this week on the above subject, so I may respond in detail I should be allowed to see this article either in advance of it's publication or I should be given the right to reply in next weeks Islander. I am sure you will agree that to respond to an article that has not yet be released would be foolish however, I can confirm that Solomon's did request the Works Department to dispose of some out of date food stuffs. I feel sure that the Islander as a responsible newspaper would not wish to be seen as selling newspapers through sensationalism and as such I reserve my right to reply in the newspaper next week after reading the forthcoming article on dumping of food.
Regards
John Anthony Gilmore
Dip. ProjMan, MAPM, IEng, ACIBSE
Works Manager
From the Editor
Mr Gilmore was offered the article (Dumping Of Food) but declined to make a full statement on the grounds of having insufficient time
|
