OIL SPILL IN WATERS OF CURACAO'S BAY
On November the 30th 2020, during the morning hours, the Curacao Port Authorities attempted to remedied a solution to an oil spill at The Santa Anna Bay (Papiamentu: Bahia di Santa Ana - Dutch: Sint Anna Baai)
HISTORY OF SANTA ANNA BAY
Curaçao was first settled by The Arawak people from the South American mainland and in 1499, it was first visited by an Italian born Admiral; Christopher Columbus and his crew; sailing under the Spanish Flag of expedition.
Columbus and his Spanish crew landed on what is know called Curacao in the bay that they named in honor to the patreon Saint, Saint Anna; as "Bahia de Santa Ana". In that period the island was settled by the Spanish then, later, by The Dutch; who established it as a major centre of trade for the Dutch West India Company.
In 1515; reportedly; under Spanish rule; almost the entire indigenous population was deported as slaves to Hispaniola; which today is known as The Di-National Caribbean Island of The Republic of Haiti and Dominican Republic, a settlement territory between the French and Spaniards.
Santa Anna Bay is a deep channel in Curacao, about 1.6 km long and 90 to 300 meters wide, located on the southern coast of Curacao. The bay divides the old capital center of Willemstad into two part Districts:
(1.) "The Point District" aka; "Punda district" located on the eastern side of Santa Anna Bay, and
(2.)"The Other Side" aka; "Otrobanda" located westward.
LEONARD SMITH AND THE QUEEN EMMA BRIDGE
The Bay is transversed by the famous and one of the oldest bridge in world of its type, The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge aka "The swinging Old Lady", which links the two district parts of the city. The bridge was built in 1888 by an American, Mr. Leonard Smith and originally was a toll bridge from 1901-1934, and only individuals without shoes were permitted to cross the bridge without paying a toll; however those wanting to cross the bridge with their shoes on; had to pay a toll of 25 cents.
Mr. Smith also owned the first water power plant in Curacao and was an American consul to Curacao, who managed some salt pans on Bonaire, as well.
DID THE NICOLAS MADURO FAMILY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH LEONARD SMITH'S DEATH?
Upon Smith's death, the Maduros took over the Companies that Leonard Smith owned along with the Emma Bridge. Later in 1916; The Maduros opened a Bank together with the Curiel's family in what is now known today as the Maduro and Curiels Bank aka MCB. It is believed that the same Maduro is a descendent of The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The southern end of the bay opens into the Caribbean Sea, and the northern end opens up into the Schottegat, a giant deep lagoon that serves as a harbour and seaplane anchorage.
WEEKEND OIL SPILL EVENT
Reports indicated that sometime during the past weekend, a ship had sunk at The Port's scrapyard and a major oil spill drifted towards Subsea Global Solutions. It was reported that the oil escaped from the Atlantic Trader" that had been at Antillian Scarpyard for a few years and was mostly sunk.
Approximately, more than 4,000 square meters of water surface was covered with the layer of oil.
According to sources this was also the reason why a quantity of persons in charge of The Port organized a meeting.
From Curacao's Pilots Organization (CPO) Harbor Master; Marlon la Roche attended the meeting, which gave understanding on how to combat the existing situation before the oil had a chance to mobilize to other parts of the port, and secondly; to prevent the oil from reaching the docked ports; where the Ships and cruise liners are and even further; at The Coast Guard's and The Royal Marine port.
WILL MP STEPHEN WALROUD ALSO SAY COVID-19 WAS TO BLAMED FOR THE OIL SPILL? OR WHAT WERE THE ATTEMPTS TO CONTAIN THE INVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.
To help clean the area a sump pump truck was used to suck the oil out of the Bay's water, in addition to booms set about to try and contain and prevent the oil from spreading any further throughout the bay area, thus endangering and damaging the ecosystem.
WERE THE NECESSARY STEPS AND PROPER PROTOCOL EXERCISED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROPERLY CONTAIN THE OIL SPILL?
Attempts were made to contact, the Curacao Minister of Health and Environment, Mrs. Zita Jesus-Leito, but no response.
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