For months, residents complained about the blasting being carried out by Bahama Rock and say they are now able to feel them.
Back in April, some residents told The Freeport News they thought they were waking up in the middle of an earthquake.
One resident said the shakings had gone from a little trembling under the feet to tremors and to the point where even the roof was rumbling and, she feared it was going to get worse.
Bahama Rock General Manager Walter Reed told this daily then, that the shocks were being monitored by a vibration monitoring system and were well within the legal standards.
He also explained that there were many reasons why the blasts for the Eight Mile Rock residents may seem to be getting closer.
Insisting the neighbours are priority to the company, Reed admitted that communication between the company and the residents is key.
In that vein, the Bahama Rock executive revealed that a town meeting designed to familiarize the residents with the operators of the plants and the blasting operation was on the drawing board.
Concerned the blasts were getting too close and becoming more and more scary as they were beginning to shake their foundations, residents grew more outspoken.
Bahama Rock held an open house on Monday for the residents of Eight Mile Rock to explain the dynamics of the projects.
Area MP and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe was also on hand for the exercise and heard the concerns of the residents.
Yesterday, via a press release from the Ministry of Energy and the Environment, Senator Dr. Marcus Bethel revealed that the ‘cease and desist’ order was as a consequence of the disturbance and annoyance arising from the recent underground blasting activities of the Bahama Rock Company.
The order was said to have been given by the government, through the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
“The Ministry of Energy and the Environment has also launched an official investigation into the process and plans for the blasting and its impact on public and private properties in adjacent communities in Grand Bahama,” the release concluded.
By LEDEDRA MARCHE, Senior Freeport News Reporter
