Minister of Works, Sen. Julian Francis is urging that aggregate from the Rabacca Dry River, commonly called “Rabacca stuff” be used in construction, rather than beach sand.
Francis told Parliament last week there were thousands of tonnes of aggregate, crushed and shifted aggregate at the Taiwanese operation in Rabacca.
“But we are still bent on going to Diamond and digging out the sand from the sea to mix concrete. The aggregate at Rabacca is cheaper; it is better for construction because it is washed. There is very little salt in it, if any at all, especially now that it is the rainy season,” Francis further said.
He said that at the Taiwanese operation the material is washed as it is being shifted and crushed.
That is the aggregate that is being used at the Argyle International Airport, he said.
“In fact, they are mixing the Rabacca shifted sand with the beach sand, to reduce the impact on the beaches, to plaster the Argyle International Airport.
“Why can’t we do it? It costs us a little bit more in transportation from Rabacca down. But, in the end, you are going to get a better quality, it is going to cost you less on maintenance,” he further said.
Francis explains that when beach sand is used in construction the salt comes to the surface with time and causes paint to peel.
“I want to appeal to us. The aggregate is available — thousands of tonnes lying out there in storage. … It is passed, it is tested, and it is recommended for use,” he said.
JULIAN FRANCIS is becoming an expert at the dance called the ‘two step’, and ‘verbal diahoria’.
What he fails to tell us is that it is the government that is digging and destroying the beach at Diamond.
It is only them that is selling the sand and earning hundred of thousands, perhaps even millions every year by this dirty behavior.
No private firm or person mines beach sand, only the government.
Its only they that can stop the rape of beach sand from SVG, because it they are the culprits.
Problem is that finely sifted rabaca stuff is unsuitable for plastering. The grains are uneven and have sharp corners and edges, which causes drag when applying as plaster. Where as beach sand has no sharp sides and is round or oblong which makes it suitable for plastering.
I agree that the rabica stuff is better in concrete making, its sharp edges and porosity makes stronger concrete.
Beach sand has a huge salt content that rots the reinforcing steel, it creates a danger in building work, perhaps even building collapes at some time in the future. It should be put through a washing plant before using, the government is aiding and abeting builders and contractors to use a dangerous substance in concrete making.
They should be dredging sand from places like blue lagoon and other places which have silting up. Then pumping it to a location which has a washing plant.
The deciept and crap that Francis brings to us is what I have come to expect from the ‘two step’, and ‘verbal diahoria man’.
God forbid it was Bigga Biggs that was mining sand from beach’s, they would of stopped him years ago, without any regard to his work force or families.
I suppose its asking to much for them to control their own disgraceful behaviour.
Its the pretence thing that gets me, its not us, its the builder the avoidance of the truth.
NO ITS NOT ITS ONLY THE GOVERNMENT, AND ITS THIS VERY MINISTER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.
Two Step Francis, be a man and own up to the truth.
WHY HAVE WE GOT A FORIEGN COMPANY, A TAIWANESE COMPANY MINING RABACA STUFF? WHY ISN’T A VINCENTIAN COMPANY OR THE GOVERNMENT DOING THE MINING?
IS JULIAN FRANCIS A DIRECTOR OR AN ADVISER TO THIS COMPANY?