THE term ‘litter bugs’ refer to people who deliberately deface the surroundings by way of dumping garbage and other refuse in undesignated public spaces. This is not only unacceptable but illegal. It should be noted that the absence of a waste receptacle is not an excuse to litter. Litter Enforcement Regulations (2013) prohibit anyone from improper waste disposal. Persons can be charged for littering. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) only recently had cause to go on a hunt for persons who dumped a quantity of garbage. What is particularly disgusting was the fact that the dumping of the garbage took place shortly after a massive clean-up campaign spearheaded by none other that President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Named “Operation Clean up”, the campaign saw tonnes of garbage being cleared and removed in what could be regarded as one of the biggest clean-up campaigns the city has ever experienced in recent years.

The police and City Constabulary are now in a much better position to monitor the situation regarding the unlawful disposal of garbage thanks to the introduction of CCTV cameras. According to media reports, three persons were arrested for the illegal dumping of garbage. The men were released on $40,000 bail each for allegedly littering along Wellington Street, Georgetown. The Guyana Police Force is cautioning members of the public that it is unlawful to be dumping garbage in the city of Georgetown and its environs and anyone found doing so will face the full force of the law.

President Ali had earlier signalled a warning to litter bugs that such acts will not be tolerated. According to the President, “We are going to put police presence at these sites where people continuously dump their garbage… because they have no regard for the environment.” These are words that cannot be taken lightly and persons who ignore such warnings are doing so at their own risk of being hauled before the courts.

Dumping of garbage in the city is abhorrent in its own right but dumping garbage in the vicinity of a school and a health centre is all the more appalling as in the case of Durey Lane. There is the Campbellville Secondary School where hundreds of children converge daily. There is also a health centre and fire department in proximity. The sight of piles of garbage along the roadside, apart from being unsightly is also a public health hazard which must be stamped out within the ambit of the law.

Littering is a serious offence in many parts of the world, most notably in Singapore, where the penalty for littering not only carry hefty fines but in some cases flogging in public. There is that popular case of an American student who was caught defacing a public space and not even the intervention of the President of the United States could have spared him from being flogged.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council, under the Municipal and District Act 28;01 is allowed to fine persons $10,000 for littering while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can penalise an individual up to $50,000 while a corporate body can be issued a fine of $100,000. Failure to pay the fine can attract an additional fine for outstanding payments. The city by-laws also make provisions for persons who urinate or defecate in open spaces in the city, drivers who allow passengers to litter from their vehicles and those who ask others to dispose of their garbage to be liable for fines.

The penalties are already embodied in the current Act and there are new proposals by the City Council for increased penalties. The difficulty, however, is that even the current laws, dated as they may be are still not being adequately and effectively enforced by the Council. In fact, the Council seems to turn a blind eye to the several infractions of the city by-laws. It is ironic that new and more severe laws are being proposed when the Council appears unable or unwilling to enforce existing laws and by-laws regarding littering.

The Government of Guyana is doing its part to change the image of the city but it needs the support and co-operation of the broader citizenry, It is unfortunate that the political opposition has opted to pursue a path of non-co-operation with the Central Government and has in fact urged its supporters not to co-operate with the clean-up operation now underway. The APNU+AFC-dominated City Council seems to be taking instructions from Congress Place on important matters of policy as could be seen from the recent statements by Mayor Ubraj Narine which was reinforced by the PNC Leader, Aubrey Norton.

It is time for the Mayor and City Council to rise above partisan politics and put the interests of the citizens of Georgetown ahead of narrow selfish partisan interests. President Ali and his PPP/C administration must be commended for the several interventions made to restore the City of Georgetown to its former glory.

As the country gains in stature and prominence on the international stage, there is likely to be a flood of tourist arrivals, along with those coming to do business, especially in the emerging oil and gas sector. It is therefore important that we seek to project a new image of the country and the capital city.

In this regard, every citizen has a role to play. It is more that keeping our individual home environment clean and tidy. It is about national pride and creating that clean and welcoming environment which has been characteristic of us as a people.