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Major grease blockage causes sewage back-up into homes
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--At least four homes and a number of businesses were flooded with raw sewage on Wednesday night while a crew from Windward Roads was clearing the main sewage line of extreme clogging by grease deposits. The sewage backed up into the pipes that connect the homes and businesses to the main sewage line and literally exploded through the toilet bowls.
The flow of sewage lasted for several minutes, sending residents into a panic and out of their homes. Adding insult to their injury, the residents said they could not get a straight answer from Windward Roads or Government about who is going to be held responsible for the damage to their property.
Cay Bay oil spill still not cleared
SXM Island Times - CAY BAY--Rodrick Carty of the Seaside Nature Park has brought to the attention of The Daily Herald that the oil spill on the Cay Bay beach near his establishment caused by a fault in electricity company GEBE's waste treatment system last week Thursday has not yet been cleared up.
Carty observed the oil being washed up onto the beach front Wednesday afternoon when heavy swells engulfed the area. According to Reuben Thompson of St. Maarten Pride Foundation, the oil that had soaked into the sand in the ocean as a result of sedimentation is now being stirred up by the heavy swells.
GEBE New Generators Have Electrical Failures ---Plans to Purchase Additional Generator in 2011.
The Daily Herald - Philipsburg:--- The operational manager of GEBE power plant Kenrick Chittick told reporters on Monday that the current power outages from GEBE is caused mainly because GEBE have been experiencing some electrical failures with its two new generators. Chittick said while they have reduced the length of time for the power outages, the electrical failures they are faced with is nothing new or out of the ordinary. He said even with the old generators they are having the same type of problem; Chittick said on several occasions the engines just shut down because of a short circuit and tripping.
GEBE says everything being done to reduce inconvenience to public
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--Malfunctions, short circuits and unforeseen circumstances can always occur with any type of new machinery, GEBE management says. Senior members briefed the media yesterday on several issues that have affected the community as well as the company recently.
GEBE's Chief of Operations Kenrick Chittick provided a technical explanation of the problems the new 11.3-megawatt (MW) generators have been encountering, resulting in a spate of power outages in the last two weeks.
New measures being taken to contain future oil spills says GEBE
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A press conference was held on Monday afternoon at which time GEBE chief of operations at the power plant Mr. Kenrick Chittic, gave an explanation for last weeks oil leak from the power plant that contaminated the Cape Bay Beach.
In his explanation Chittic stated that the company realised that their waste oil handling system was overloaded with oil at approximately 6:30am last week Thursday.
Residents not satisfied with service from GEBE
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A group of individuals are not satisfied with the explanation from GEBE about the spate of power outages last week and are calling on the community to speak out and take action against the poor service from the utility company.
Christopher Emmanuel, speaking on behalf of the group, said the statement from GEBE about the cause of the power outages, is vague and the company is out of touch with the citizens of the country.
Is GEBE ultimately to blame? – Part 1
PHILIPSBURG - On SXMISLANDTIME I read - on Feb 19, 2010 - "BREAKING NEWS, The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will take legal action against GEBE. The Chamber who will be representing the business community of St. Maarten will be present in court on the 8th of March 2010, seeking compensation for damages resulting from the numerous power outages that the community of St. Maarten has had to face over the past months."[More....]
Carty: GEBE Lawsuit not against individual
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - President of the Chamber of Commerce Glen Carty stressed that the law suit against GEBE is not against any individual but rather against GEBE to ascertain the problem at the company regarding its ability to supply power to the St. Maarten community and what recommendations can be offered to solve the problem.
Carty said what they are asking seeking in the lawsuit, is for the judge to appoint an independent individual or company to "look under the hood" with the situation concerning the generator problem at GEBE.
Cay Bay beach contaminated
The Daily Herald - ~ As GEBE waste treatment system malfunctions ~
CAY BAY--Oil oozing through a pipe that conveys the cooling water for electricity company GEBE's generators back into the sea resulted in major contamination of the Cay Bay beach yesterday.
GEBE explained in a press statement that its waste treatment system (WTS) normally skimmed off any waste oil from the production process before it could reach the environment.
ENGINE TRIP RESULTS IN OUTAGES.
SMNN - CAY BAY—The GEBE Power Plant experienced a power shortage on Wednesday morning due to an engine tripping at approximately 8:40 a.m. GEBE technicians struggled to maintain the electricity supply to the community after one of the new generators, Diesel Engine #18, tripped due to low fuel pressure. The disturbance to the grid caused Diesel Engine #16 to fall off line as well which resulted in a loss of some 20 MW causing outages in many districts. GEBE technicians worked diligently to restart the engines as soon as possible to restore electricity to the community.
