A South Rivers household is hoping that an appeal via the media would spur health authorities to act on their complaints about a neighbour who has been rearing sheep in their yard for years.
“We tried. We went to the health department numerous times,” one of the residents told iWitness News.
“It’s been going on from way back when and everybody has been trying to deal with it. More than one of the neighbours went to the health place.
“Even those from overseas tried to call the health place,” the resident told iWitness News.
The resident speculated that the authorities might be failing to act because of a close relationship between a health worker and a relative of the owners of the sheep.
“It is getting worse. The whole neighbourhood is smelly with sheep scent. If you open the doors, you send out your head, it’s sheep scent,” the resident complained.
The resident said the health department keeps promising to look into the situation.
“A guy came out here, and the guy told me he would give them two weeks [to remove the sheep] or he would, personally, come with a truck and the police to get them out. And he reassured me, and then all of a sudden, nothing.”
The resident said there are over 15 sheep at the property.
“I would like the guy to move the sheep out of the neighbourhood, take them somewhere else, because it’s bad living among animals. You can’t even open your window to get some fresh air to come in and stuff like that. … We tried so many times and nothing has been done…
“My kids get sick from time to time with cold and infections on their chests. I’ve visited the health officials many times and other neighbours have done the same.
“I really need help. I cannot live like this all the time. I cannot even be in the yard a few minutes. The whole neighbourhood smells of the sheep stench.”
After all those years of complaining it is only now it makes the news. It is a good election ploy.
Labour now! Six in ah row!