AS the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to strengthen its enforcement arm and clamp down on poor environmental practices, the Agency recently emerged as victors in a scrap metal/derelict vehicles case. In accordance with rule 3(6) (b) a person who is guilty of an offence in case of a body corporate is liable to fines of one hundred thousand dollars (100,000.). Where a clean-up order has been issued for the offence committed and the pollutant fails to comply with the said order, he can be charged a fine for failure to comply with a clean-up order.

To this end, an East Coast Demerara mechanic workshop proprietor felt the force of the law after he was fined a total of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($130,000) for litter offences. This was following a written complaint received by the Agency. Further, the complaint stated that the defendant continued to dump and store scrap metals and derelict vehicles in an unsightly manner on Government’s reserve.

Subsequently, a site inspection was conducted by EPA at the defendant’s business premises and surroundings on the East Coast Demerara, where it was observed that the Government reserves surrounding the defendant’s business premises were heavily littered with derelict vehicles and industrial wastes. The litter had also spilled into nearby waterways.

Warnings ignored…
After numerous warnings, verification and compliance exercises at the defendant’s business, he remained non-compliant with the clean-up order that was issued. Given his persistent non-compliance, the Agency moved to the courts where the defendant was slapped with the above two mentioned charges. The defendant was found guilty of both offences and fined $100,000.00 and $30,000.00, respectively, in the East Judicial District Magistrate’s Court. In addition, to making the payments, the defendant was ordered to clean up the said area by removing all derelict vehicles and scrap metals which were stored at his business premises.

The Agency is actively pursuing cases of littering…
The Waste Management Programme Area of the EPA with assistance from the Agency’s Legal Unit, continues to actively pursue cases of offences and are making persons liable for their actions. As the EPA continues to take such steps as are necessary for effective environmental management, the Agency calls upon all Guyanese to honour their civic responsibility and care for their environment.
The Regulations also prescribes an increase in penalty for persons found guilty of repeat offences. Specifically it states that the fines will be double the maximum for any offence repeated.

It is an offence to Litter
Under the Litter Regulations, it is an offence to litter in a public place, particularly:
1. To deposit litter in a public place;
2. To deposit litter from a moving vehicle unto a public place; and
3. To cause or permit persons to commit offences 1 and 2 above.

Any person/persons found guilty of any of these offences under the Litter Regulations shall be liable to a fine of between fifty to one hundred thousand dollars ($50,000 – $100,000) or three months imprisonment. The absence of a waste receptacle is not an excuse to litter under the law.
Incidents of littering can be reported to the Agency on 225-5467-9 ext. 223 or your local NDC.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, Facebook: epaguyana or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.