…litter bugs will pay a $7,500 fine
OFFICERS of the City Constabulary Department of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are “lurking” around on city streets to catch persons in the act of littering, Deputy Chief Constable Trevor Merriman said yesterday. Merriman spoke with this newspaper at his City Hall office, along with Superintendent Stephen Bailey, who is responsible for the administrative aspect of the City Police Department. He sought to provide an update on the recently launched anti-littering campaign.
The campaign stems from a new plan by the constabulary to rid the city of litter bugs and officers in plain clothes are mandated to arrest persons caught in the act.
The exercise began last October but was halted for a while, as officers were diverted to other duties to do with national elections.
Merriman said the exercise is now back on stream and that there will be no pardoning for persons caught littering. “Littering is now a countrywide thing. Everyone knows they should not litter, so we will not be accepting any excuses.
“Littering is something we have been fighting with a very long time. When one may want to believe that there is no constabulary presence out there, don’t make the mistake and throw anything out there…because you will be arrested.
“Once you’re arrested and brought in here, there will be zero tolerance and you will be taken before the court and you will have to pay a fine,” Merriman warned.
The constabulary officers are working at strategic locations, on Regent, Water and King Streets, as well as at Stabroek and Cuffy Squares. Those caught littering will be made to pay a fine of $7,500.
The littering initiative will go on as long as necessary, and until there is a change in the attitude of citizens.
According to Merriman, the Council has found that many persons caught littering are working for businesses in the city and are mandated by the businessmen to illegally dump their garbage.
He appealed to business owners to use the system that the Council has in place, as there will be “no excuses; no pardons.” He disclosed that there will be a special arrangement in place for those business owners who feel they could dump garbage at night.
He said the Council is still hoping that, one day, authorities will see the need for the Council to have its own municipal court so that the magistrate’s court does not have to be burdened with littering cases.
Littering has long been an issue for the City Council, and has been described as the single most challenging issue that has been plaguing the municipality.