THE disgraceful and smelly environment relative to the particular southern

half of the Regent Road pavement that parallels the St Barnabas School and the open space where the church formerly stood reflects a wanton disrespect by those responsible for their city and the physical health and welfare of their fellow citizens and country in general. Worse, it reflects also a similar disregard for their environment.
One will recall the desultory and sacrilegious action of dumping garbage of all mix along the grass reserve, even when the historic Gothic structure stood in existence. This extended onto the pavement, and onto the church grounds. It goes without saying that those culpable of such an act showed no respect for God or Man. It was a most shocking display of irreverence of any kind that could have occurred anywhere.
Even now that the site has since been sold to an entrepreneur, garbage is still being deposited there. Now, there is no differentiation in terms of type, for garbage is simply garbage, period; but when it is inclusive of carcasses, then one must question the moral mindset and sanity of those responsible for such an indescribable attack on the environment.
This pathway described has increasingly become most foul in smell, with most pedestrians avoiding the use of this walkway in order to escape the unbearable stench that permeates the air. It has to be just as uncomfortable for the staff and pupils of the adjoining school.
A closer examination of the surrounding drainage reflects the horror of plastic bags, bottles and other mix having been deposited therein.
Now, let us not confuse the issue here, for thus far this is about indiscriminate dumping, for which citizens are definitely responsible and plainly guilty. The question of the environment, particularly as it relates to the troubling issue of the horrible state of our capital, is almost a daily constant. Ever so often, there are public reminders as to the putridity of the City and the need for citizens to be collective in their adherence to the basic measures for keeping it clean, such as storing their refuse for proper collection and disposal. In the latter instance, one can point fingers at the Mayor&City Council for their more than abysmal record in regard to removing such disposables from the City and its environs; but they cannot be held accountable for garbage dumping, which is a deliberately bold, brazen, and disrespectful act perpetrated by recalcitrants.
Even some sections of the corporate city are guilty of this unsavoury practice, a fact angrily stated by a leading private sector official almost two years ago. There is no law that gives citizens the right to dump garbage. It offends the City’s by-laws.
It goes without saying that a nation’s capital city is its showpiece, for it is the first port of call for visitors of any rank. And such an environmental scenario as described above does our nation’s image a great disservice, since it immediately conveys a serious negativity about our habits. For citizens to continue indulging in what can only be described again as a dangerously insalubrious practice, apart from being wholly neglectful behaviour towards the environment, conveys the unmistakable conclusion of grave unconcern for the nation’s welfare, inclusive of whatever  city restoration plans there may be. Such citizens are unworthy citizens.
How can they claim to love their country when they undermine its environmental safety? The mere slap-on-the-wrist charge of littering and the inconsequential monetary penalty such attracts have not been a deterrent of any kind, not to mention that the City has been inconsistent in terms of bringing such named offenders to book. It is time that condign action be taken against errant persons. Garbage dumping must be stamped out!