– In the wake of emerging diseases

The New Amsterdam Municipality has commenced instituting fines on its citizenry, who continue to harbor overgrown bushes on their house lots. The minimum cost of $3000, per month, will be charged per house lot cleared by the council. That sum will be affixed to the land owner’s taxes should that person reside overseas.

According to Health Inspector, Akloo Ramsudh, the harbouring of bushes gives rise to mosquitoes and vectors which can cause the spread of diseases to human beings.
“Mosquitoes carry troubling viruses and there are emerging of new diseases. We did not know about Zika or Chickungunia as previously there was malaria and dengue fever, but we now have new and emerging diseases,” he said. “Once there is an outbreak in a country, it can easily spread to other locations.

If there is an outbreak in Brazil, or Suriname we are at risk. And if the mosquito comes here and finds an enabling environment for them to survive and multiply in their rapid numbers, then persons with garbage and overgrown bushes in their yards will be the first to be affected’.
Accordingly, residents have a major part to play by protecting themselves and loved ones from communicable diseases which can attack and destroy the valuable human resource.