Illegal dumpers should face law courts, says Environment Minister

MINISTER of the Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde says his Ministry will be taking a zero tolerance approach to dumping in Barbados.

He made his position clear yesterday during the launch of a Clean and Green campaign, which over the next few months will see the National Conservation Commission (NCC) and the Sanitation Services Authority (SSA) working closely together to clean and beautify spaces across Barbados. He said it is intended that with the buy-in of residents and the wider community, Barbados could become the cleanest country in the Western Hemisphere.

He said this can’t be done with the illegal dumping, which reared its ugly head at the site of the launch in Flat Rock, St. George, even though attempts had already started to clean the area.

“We are going to put cameras because it is my determination as Minister of the Environment and National beautification to prevent this illegal dumping and to stop the scourge of illegal dumping as we know it. I am saying to the entire Barbados gone are the days where I will be telling persons to come and clean up after they dump illegally.

“I am not into the business of forgiving. That is what the Church is there for. If they are involved in the activities of illegal and illicit dumping, I believe and I am sure this is the belief of the entire government that they should face the law courts. And that is as simple as it gets for me.

“Illegal dumping will not be tolerated under my watch. After we work assiduously to clean and beautify those areas, those persons who believe because of some flippant gene in their body walking around saying that they can destroy our ecosystem and our biodiversity, I am saying your days are numbered because we are going to put cameras. And when those persons are caught, I am going to ensure that the policemen and the court and the legal system do their job. It is a zero tolerance as it relates to illegal dumping because the communities have a sense of altruism in the project where their environment is beautified.”

Minister Forde explained that benches will be placed in the area known as Flat Rock Woods and there will be community refuse hubs introduced as part of the project. A day will also be identified for bulk refuse to be collected from the community. In addition, he stated that 360 workers will be deployed across the various constituencies, with the responsibility of the monitoring and evaluating work on behalf of the NCC to ensure the areas are maintained. An educational and sensitisation component will also be included in the programme.

Forde, who jumped behind the wheel of one of the trucks yesterday, was joined by Barbados Labour Party candidate for the St. George North by-election, Senator Toni Moore and former representative for St. George North, Gline Clarke.

Minister Forde rubbished claims that the work being carried out in St. George North was politically motivated. “It was conceptualised from the time I entered the Ministry, understanding there is a nexus between cleaning as one aspect in terms of the sanitation and what we do and with greening at the NCC.

“When you hear persons talk because they have nothing better to do, I call it the atmospheric noises. To politicise a project like this that started long before there was even a thought about a by-election, I would like to tell those persons put their hands to the plow...”

Former representative, Gline Clarke, commended the project, noting that the lands were given to the Crown back in 2006. He called on Minister Forde to ensure that the Government follows through with formally accepting the lands, which sit on approximately five acres.

“It is still under Barbados Farms Ltd. It was given to the Crown, but now the Crown has not finally accepted because the resolution has to go to Parliament before it becomes Crown land. Because you don’t know what will happen in another 50 years,” he cautioned. (JH)