Cut it out: Dead pig in bin sparks SSA outrage

A shocking discovery in Christ Church has left sanitation officials fuming. On Thursday, a dead pig was found dumped in a public waste bin in Silver Sands, prompting a stern rebuke from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

“Cut it out,” declared Carl Padmore, public relations officer for the SSA, in response to the incident. He described the situation as “quite disturbing” and “extremely disrespectful”.

The carcass was discovered after a concerned resident alerted the authorities. While smaller animals have become a common sight in bins, this marks a disturbing escalation, according to Padmore.

“We have seen things like chickens already, we would have seen things like animal faeces, but to see this here is extremely disturbing. It shows a lack of respect,” Padmore told Barbados TODAY. “This is the biggest of the animals we have seen thus far, and this is taking disgust to a very high level.”

The SSA spokesman emphasised that proper channels exist for the disposal of dead animals, including a dedicated SSA hotline and services provided by the Ministry of Health. The matter has been reported to both the police and health authorities, and Padmore hopes for swift action against the perpetrator.

“We are going to go all out to investigate this matter, and we are hoping that the guilty person can be dealt with,” he said. “Now, we are not the law, we are not the Ministry of Health, but we will do all in our power to provide them with the necessary information, and if there is a possibility of any type of action, the SSA will support that because this really has gone too far and we can’t tolerate this.”

This latest incident highlights an ongoing issue faced by sanitation workers. Padmore revealed that employees regularly complain about foul odours emanating from bins, suspecting animal remains. In some cases, even human waste has been discovered.

“The workers are annoyed and they have a right to be, when this type of action is happening,” Padmore said. “These are humans removing your waste, and they should be treated with a high level of respect.”