The Office of Disaster Pre-paredness and Emergency Man-agement (ODPEM) is informing the public to avoid swimming, bathing or harvesting fish near Berth One in the Kingston Harbour and the Greenwich Town Fishing Village until further notice.

This following the reported release of close to 300 tonnes of sulphuric acid into the sea on Friday night.

A release from the ODPEM said that the source of the spill was a container located at Berth One.

It also mentioned that a team comprising representatives of National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Marine Police, the Fire Brigade and ODPEM conducted investigations into the source of the spill and monitored clean-up operations.

The release credited NEPA with reporting that the waters near the Greenwich Town Fishing Beach is still highly acidic as a result of the spill. ODPEM will continue to monitor the situation.

Fishermen and residents alike say they are confused as to their next move.

The fishermen are calling for immediate intervention from the Government as they seek another way to carry out their jobs while residents are worried about the possible health hazards associated with the spill.