Landfill Smoke Continues To Hold Trinidad’s Capital Hostage  · Global Voices
Jason Nathu

For the fourth consecutive day, residents, visitors and people who work in Trinidad & Tobago's capital city have had to endure the thick, black, ominous smoke which has enveloped the city.
Welcome to Smoke of Spain! The capital of Trinidad and Tobago! @tv6tnt pic.twitter.com/LehWEfQEvn
— Mevon Soodeen (@XplicitMevon) January 29, 2014
Talk of the situation has dominated social media, with netizens quickly losing tolerance for the seemingly slow response by authorities:
Honestly I consider the deliberate (if they are deliberate) lighting of fires in the Beetham dump as 1.Terrorism. 2. Gross mismanagement — LJ Fresh (@ljzimberlis) January 30, 2014
I'm now dreading to pass the Beetham these few days, I see police, but they in their air condition cars @vsurajdeen @DayVan_TeaMal — Haydn Dunn (@HaydnDunn) January 29, 2014
Others were more concerned by the potential health hazards of the thick smoke:
Hospitals were placed on high alert after the toxic fumes from the Beetham Landfill sicken citizens — Clyde Jemmott (@outlaw961) January 30, 2014
Health Ministry: Smoke from Beetham landfill fires may be hazardous to health………NO WAY!!!! YOU SERIOUS! O.M.G! -_- — Ryan Richard Brown (@RyanBumpyBrown) January 30, 2014
This beetham smoke is going to kill everyone — Nicola Scott (@NicolaScott_16) January 30, 2014
Geez have to work in this Wth. #Smoke #Toxic #Beetham #Landfill #Fire #Poison #POS #TnT #SwaggLife http://t.co/CYDPNpAxCB
— Android/FuzionBanton (@PRINCE_N4_SWAGG) January 30, 2014
Many high school students chimed in on the issue with comments about the closure of schools throughout the capital city.  Some were happy for the unplanned holiday:
Thank you beetham people for another day away from school
— Tyreke ₵00₱€® (@Maestro237) January 30, 2014
Once again, give thanks to the beetham villagers, school's out✌️ — kaela archer (@kaelaarcher) January 30, 2014
Others were not impressed:
Beetham needs to stop. I'd like to pass my exams without asthma. — Eliese ☺ (@x_Carterr) January 30, 2014
Men happy they getting sent home but what's going on in the Beetham is a serious health hazard. #thefog #thesmog — Jesé (@JesseJoseph2) January 30, 2014
Government officials also took to social media to address the issue. Minister of Legal Affairs, Prakash Ramadhar tweeted:
The Beetham Landfill and associated challenges will be dealt with at Cabinet today as top priority, beyond what is already in place#i4TANDT
— Prakash Ramadhar (@PrakashRamadhar) January 30, 2014
Meanwhile, officials at the Environment Management Authority posted:
ICYMI! The EMA met with SWMCOL yesterday morning to assess the current issue regarding the Beetham Landfill fires, and issued a joint…
— EMA (@emauthority) January 30, 2014
It remains to be seen what definitive action will be taken by the authorities.
You can monitor how the situation develops on Twitter by using the hashtag #Beetham.