An oily sheen reflected a rainbow of colours on the murky waters of the Caroni Bird Sanctuary on Friday as investigators patrolled tributaries.
They were trying to determine the extent of the contamination from a spill in the sanctuary's carpark, alongside the Uriah Butler Highway.
Work crews were on site mopping up remnants of the oily substance, yet to be identified, from along the carpark drain and in the water, using absorbent pads. Three containment booms put in place on Thursday were still lying across drain number nine, snagged into place by mangrove roots.
The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is one of the main tourist attractions in the country for eco-tourism and boat tour operators transport scores of nature enthusiasts on both breakfast and sunset adventures in the swamp, where they can witness the scarlet ibis, flamingoes and other birds in their natural habitat.
EMA incident commander Steve Lalbeharry is leading the team, which includes staff of the Forestry Division, the Institute of Marine Affairs and other agencies.
In an interview at the visitors' site at the sanctuary on Friday, Lalbeharry said after several teams had inspected tributaries on Friday to the mouth of the Caroni River and the Gulf of Paria, it had been determined that the booms prevented most of the oily substance from getting into the protected wetlands.
[caption id="attachment_969444" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Members of the Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, collect material used to absorb the contaminant from the drain that runs into the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. - Marlon Rouse[/caption]
He said the remaining sheen will dissipate naturally without the need for chemicals, and the river was still teeming with life, as fish were seen jumping in the canals.
Lalbeharry said while there were some dead fish, he was unable to say how many were spotted or what killed them. He called on the public to assist the agencies in determining how the oily substance got into the drain and has asked for footage from nearby national security CCTV cameras to help the investigations.
He said efforts to contain the hazardous liquid had been mostly successful in protecting the environment, but urged the public not to use any open flames near the sanctuary until the all-clear is given.
Three officers of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management were on site on Friday to deliver jumbo garbage bags and industrial gloves for workers to remove contaminated grass and other debris.
[caption id="attachment_969442" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Steve Lalbeharry, Incident Commander of the EMA speaks to Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, Dinesh Rambally and media at the visitation dock which leads to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. - Marlon Rouse[/caption]
Lalbeharry said he was looking at all possible sources of the pollution and warned that if the investigation points to anyone culpable, the Environment Management Authority Act stipulates hefty fines.
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally was also there
