Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 01, 2014 News
Garbage has today become a sore issue in Guyana, and despite the many programmes launched to curb littering practices, the insanitary situation continues to grow.
Yesterday, in yet another effort to restore Georgetown to the garden city that many knew it to be, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment spearheaded a stakeholder’s consultation to implement the litter prevention regulations that currently exists, but seem not to be properly enforced.
Those in attendance included representatives from Ansa McAl, Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various Government Ministries, such as Local Government and Regional Development, Public Works, and Tourism Industry and Commerce.
Richard Layne presented on the ‘Legal Perspective of Litter Regulations’ while Kemraj Parsram addressed the gathering on the ‘Implementation Strategy of Litter Regulations.’
It was highlighted during the meeting that the EPA is responsible for the execution of litter regulations.
The purpose of the meeting was to educate stakeholders about their role in litter prevention. Following the meeting, plans will be revised to stamp out litter practices.
This includes having businesses become responsible for cleaning the environment in which they operate, as part of a programme called Guyanese Businesses Against Litter (GBAL).
This project is similar to the one that the Tourism Ministry announced early last year, which despite much publicity, did not materialize.
Nonetheless, the speakers yesterday indicated that there are also plans to form a Community Pride Programme, which will be aimed at having members of various villages across the country come together in the maintenance of their environment.
Layne, during his presentation, said that depositing litter in a public place is an offence under the law, and that an individual found guilty will be fined $50,000. Businesses caught littering will be made to pay $100,000.
He explained that excuses like the absence of a garbage receptacle will not spare persons from facing the stipulated penalties.
Layne said that in the case of litter thrown out of private vehicles, the person responsible for littering will be fined. If authorities are unable to find the errant person, the driver of the vehicle will be held responsible.
In the case of public transportation like minibuses or taxis, only the errant person will be held responsible, not the driver of the vehicle. However, these minibus and taxi operators must provide receptacles for litters, as failure to do so is an offense.
As it relates to littering on private properties, Layne said that any person found guilty of littering another person’s premises without his consent, will be considered guilty, and may be liable to a fine of $30,000, or six months imprisonment.
Should an individual be found guilty of littering twice, he or she will be fined double the maximum sum failing which they could be jailed for five months.
Additionally, Layne told the gathering that if a prevention warden considers a private property to be in an unpleasant state, the official has the authority to issue a clean-up order.
This will afford the offender no more than 14 days to comply with the order. Should a person deem the order to be unjust, he or she will have one week to request a review.
According to Layne, every officer of the Environmental Protection Agency is considered a litter prevention warden.
As a means of enforcing some of the regulations, Layne said that EPA officers will soon be holders of Certificates of Authority, signed by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud. These certificates will give the holder the power to arrest persons found guilty of littering.
He added that if a Litter Prevention Officer fails to take action against offenders, he or she will be held responsible.
Meanwhile, in delivering remarks on waste management, Kemraj Parsram reminded, “The health of our environment is often a good indicator of our own health.”
He said that waste should be managed in an efficient manner, so as to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
“Remember, Think globally. Act locally! The entire human race share the same home- the earth,” Parsram urged.
He highlighted several ways in which persons can manage waste. These include reusing plastic bags and bottles, choosing cloth diapers over the disposable ones, buying locally produced items, donating unwanted clothes and toys to homes and orphanages, buying glass bottled items over those in plastic containers and composting.
Parsram emphasized that composting is an excellent waste management initiative. He said that through the natural process of decomposition, kitchen scraps such as egg shells, vegetable ends, fruit peels and others can be used to replace chemical fertilizers.
This process is not only best for the environment, but is also less expensive and retains lots of water which is great for gardening in conditions that might not be very ideal.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
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