Litter Wardens commissioned and appointed
Government Information Service - Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Sergeant Selwyn Rock of the RVIPF addressing the training session held to commission and appoint the Litter Wardens. Photo credit: Ministry of Health and Social Development
Wednesday, January 26 – Residents of the Territory should expect to see improvements in the cleanliness of their surroundings as approximately 30 persons were commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and issued appointments as Litter Wardens on January 25.
In her remarks to the Litter Wardens, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Petrona Davies stated, “keeping the Territory clean requires a culture change and we are now at a point here in the Virgin Islands where stricter enforcement of our anti-littering regulations is required, if we are to successfully bring about that change”.
Davies encouraged the Litter Wardens to be confident in carrying out their duties and said, “Anytime new regulations are enforced, they are met with some resistance. But I urge you to call on the resources available. We must work together to ensure that keeping the Virgin Islands beautiful transcends beyond a slogan”.
Various persons from the private and public sectors, including the sister islands, who volunteered their services as Litter Wardens were gathered in the training room of the Peebles Hospital where they were provided additional practical training through various role-playing scenarios to equip them to effectively carry out their duties.
Facilitator of the training session, Sergeant Selwyn Rock of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), instructed the wardens on how notices should be served and the protocol to be followed.
Sergeant Rock also reminded the participants of the value of professionalism and respect as it relates to maintaining a positive relationship with the community.
Wardens were also advised to partner with the RVIPF if difficulties arose in the line of serving notices to persons observed contravening the Litter (Abatement) Act.
On August 11, 2009 members of the House of Assembly voted unanimously in support of amendments to the Litter (Abatement) Act.
It makes provisions for the appointment of officers employed by the Solid Waste Department and members of the Virgin Islands Auxiliary Force as ex officio litter wardens, along with Environmental Health Officers and Police Officers at all ranks.
The prosecutorial scope for local authorities was also extended in cases where litterers are delinquent in paying any related fines. Section 4 of the Act provides for offenders who do not make related payments within 21 days to appear before a local Magistrate.
Under the amended Act, persons found guilty of discharging litter from a moving vehicle, transporting waste so that it becomes litter, littering public or private premises, or failing to comply with a litter removal notice will be subjected to a maximum fine of $500 or three months imprisonment.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development endeavours to provide leadership which promotes health, social wellbeing and a safe environment.
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6 Comments
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I wonder what the consequences will be and who they will be for when private property is adjacent to the garbage bins. Garbage ends up all over private property from those bins. People throw their construction garbage into the property. Sometimes when bottles and cans are thrown at the container from a moving car it misses and ends up in the property. Lots of times people don’t bother to take the trash to the container, they just throw it on land that is not being used. I often long for the days when we were poor but decent people. Now everybody in a big house and a big car but completely lacking in any decent habits. Trucks that take garbage from stores in town or the government leave a trail all the way from town to Pockwood Pond, particularly when they are passing areas open to the sea. I was behind a big truck one day and got a big piece of cardboard in my windshield. From 2009 to now, that’s plenty of time to pass the act and get these people on the road. I really want to feel motivated to believe litter wardens will make a difference.
@Finally!, Litter Wardens will face many challenges in their capacity of being ordinary people who volunteered to be stewards of the environment for the health, safety and beauty of the Territory for all its residents and visitors alike. Litter wardens are empowered to speak to persons who litter, to ask them to cease and dissist from littering, and also to issue fines in cases of non-compliance. However, this would require the cooperation of all concerned. If you see someone putting trash where they should not be putting it, don’t withhold information if a Litter Warden asks you about it. If your property is being vandalized by people throwing trash on your property, find a Litter Warden to assist you in warning the offender, getting the garbage removed, or issuing notice and fines to the offender. It will not be easy for Litter Wardens to curb the problem without due cooperation from the public.
Get them out and walking about RoadTown ASAP! They best be fining all the businesses for their filthy and garbage strewn parking lots and dead shrubbery filled with garbage.
Please i do hope that you all don’t let your friends who litter get away. The roadside has become a dumping ground for many stove, old beds, construction waste and used oil being left next to the gabbage bins. OH! don’t forget the actual gabbage beign placed outside the bins.This is so unsightly and such a health hazard to the community. I love the BVI but right now it stinks and looks very UNKEPT and DIRTY DIRTY…..ETC.
Just stand outside UP’s at night and see how much litter is thrown all over the place.
Lets hope that we do start seeing improvements with the LARGE amount of trash on our road sides.
Litter wardens can start with the taxi drivers who like to throw their cups out the window of their vehicles.Also please stop the guy from the “Arab” store just past Nanny Cay who drives the red pick -up with empty boxes flying out all the time on his way to the dump.
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