Smooth start to operation to
increase pond’s saline level
PHILIPSBURG--Up to late Thursday Public Works and Hygiene officials had reported a smooth start to the two-day operation to increase the saline level of Great Salt Pond to eliminate the conditions that are conducive to the breeding of the “mosquito-like insects” that have been infesting Philipsburg in recent weeks.
The operation began late Wednesday when water in the pond was pumped out and water from the sea pumped in. The procedure was repeated on Thursday.
Head of the Veterinary and Hygiene Department Tony Boyrard, who was monitoring the operation closely yesterday, said he expected to see some results within a few days. “I visited the areas around the pond today (Thursday) but I don’t expect to see anything right away.”
He said one person had reported that the number of flies in the area had reduced a little, but maintained “we don’t expect immediate results. We will keep monitoring the situation and we expect some changes soon.”
Public Works Head Claudius “Toontje” Buncamper said the operation was proceeding smoothly up to late Thursday. He said it was expected to continue on the right track throughout last night and today. “We went through the night emptying the water. There was an eight- to 10-inch difference in the water level of the pond (when it was pumped out),” he said. “Everything is on schedule and so far everything is going okay.”
The decision was taken to increase the saline level in the pond after a test by the Hygiene Department found that the larvae of the insects were killed within a few hours of being placed in salt water. The salinity of the pond water had decreased substantially due to the amount of rain that had fallen in recent weeks.
Health Sector Director Jorien Lucas-Wuite said entomologists in Curaçao who ran tests on samples of the insects had described them as “mosquito-like insects.”
“They look like mosquitoes, but they are not mosquitoes. Based on their investigation the insects are probably midges belonging to the chiromomidae family. There are more (strains) of these insects in the region, but the most common one is chiromomidae. They are midges resembling mosquitoes, but lack the characteristics of mosquitoes and do not bite,” Lucas-Wuite explained.
Despite fogging the affected areas on two occasions the mosquito-like insects, which breed in Great Salt Pond, continue to infest the affected areas in large quantities and are a nuisance to residents and businesses in the area.
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