Law enforcers need more info about Litter Act – CWSA official

Vincentians, especially police and judicial officials, need to be better educated about the Litter Act (No. 15 of 1991).{{more}}

This is the conclusion of participants in a one-day workshop,hosted by the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) and the Solid Waste Management Unit.

The workshop, held on Tuesday at the CWSA’s Technical Office Complex at New Montrose, attracted 30 participants from environmental and other community organizations.

The objective of the workshop was to establish collaborative relationships between the Solid Waste Management Unit and the community organizations.

Solid Waste Manager Winsbert Quow described the workshop as a “successful” one that produced fruitful discussions.

One of the high points of the day was the discussion on the Litter Act, he said.

“Persons feel that we need to be educated, not only the general public, but the people who are involved in the enforcement of the Act, such as the police and the judiciary,” Quow said.

The Solid Waste Manager said participants were of the opinion that the law enforcers are “either not aware or unwilling to prosecute persons who participate in activities such as illegal dumping.

“Persons said they felt like on many occasions, they took complaints to the police – we’ve (Solid Waste) had that experience where we take photos of illegal dumping and so forth, but it doesn’t go very far. No one is arrested or no one is charged”, Quow added.

The Solid Waste Manager said he was pleased with the turnout of participants and their “spirited” contributions to the workshop.

CWSA’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager Joan Ryan also expressed satisfaction with Tuesday’s workshop.

“In my opinion, the discussions were very lively and fruitful,” Ryan said.

Earlier in the day’s proceedings, participants were enlightened about the relationship between Solid Waste Management and Health by Health Educator Celoy Nichols. Vera-Ann Brereton, Vice President of the Tourism Association, spoke on Tourism development and Solid Waste.

Following the presentations, participants spoke of the issues and challenges faced in their communities relating to waste management and what they have been doing to address the challenges.

“Those presentations and the presentations and earlier remarks set the tone for the kind of fruitful discussions throughout the rest of the day,” Ryan said.

“What we were able to achieve though, was that all of us have pledged to work closer together,” she said.

Section 12 (General Penalty) of the Litter Act (No. 15 of 1991) states: “If any person acts in contravention of, or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or any Regulation hereunder in respect of which no special penalty is provided, he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment and in addition he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for each day on which the offence continues.” (AA)