Residents of Parham are sounding the alarm over what they describe as repeated illegal dumping of debris — including seaweed and construction waste — allegedly carried out by contractors working at Jumby Bay, according to Antigua.news.
Multiple residents say trucks have been depositing loads of waste directly onto the sensitive mangrove areas at Crabbs, raising fears of lasting environmental damage to one of the island's critical coastal ecosystems.
"All the rubbish that comes from Jumby Bay are being dumped there — we are upset," one resident told Antigua.news, expressing frustration that the alleged dumping has continued for some time without intervention from authorities.
Mangroves are widely recognised as vital ecosystems that provide natural coastal protection, support marine life, and filter pollutants. Residents warn that the combination of organic and construction debris threatens to disrupt these fragile systems and negatively impact nearby fishing areas.
Community members are now calling on several government bodies — including the Central Board of Health, Solid Waste, the Department of Environment, and the police — to urgently investigate and take enforcement action where necessary.
"This cannot continue. We need the authorities to step in and stop this before the damage becomes irreversible," a second resident said.
Residents say they are prepared to escalate the matter if no immediate action is forthcoming, insisting that the protection of the Crabbs mangroves must be treated as a national priority.
