Pioneering Air Quality Initiative Takes Flight in St. Croix with Community Support

The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, through its Terra Ay Ay Environmental Action Group, has proudly initiated the deployment of a network of air quality monitors within select St. Croix communities. This groundbreaking move marks the beginning of a comprehensive effort to bolster air quality monitoring and community engagement on the island.

This initiative was sparked by the significant distress caused by the 2021 incidents at the Limetree Refinery, which adversely affected the health and daily lives of numerous residents. A Community Impact Survey conducted subsequently shed light on the dire experiences of residents, especially in the West End neighborhoods, where people reported suffering from intense noxious odors and debilitating health effects, such as severe headaches and difficulty breathing, during April and May of that period. In Kingshill, community members detailed encounters with chemical clouds invading their homes, posing serious health risks.

Armed with insights from this survey and a 2014 study by the Eastern Caribbean Center of The University of the Virgin Islands, the Terra Ay Ay project has strategically chosen locations for air quality monitor installations. Frederiksted now hosts the inaugural device, offering local communities previously impacted by industrial pollution access to immediate air quality data via the project’s online platform.

However, the ambitions of the Terra Ay Ay Environmental Action Group extend beyond mere monitoring. The project aims to weave community participation and educational outreach into its fabric. By seeking residential volunteers to host additional air quality monitors and partnering with educators to engage students in hands-on scientific learning, the initiative endeavors to cultivate a culture of environmental awareness and activism among St. Croix’s youth and broader community.

The Terra Ay Ay initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration, with support from key organizations such as the Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT), St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA), and the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition (VIGFC). These partnerships underscore a shared commitment to environmental preservation and underscore a collective approach to fostering a sustainable and resilient St. Croix. Through such collaborative efforts, the Terra Ay Ay project is not only addressing immediate environmental concerns but is also paving the way for enduring community empowerment and environmental stewardship in the region.