Minister of the Environment, Dr. Denis Lowe (FP)????
A call has been made for more stringent measures to be put in place to curb illicit dumping.
It has come from Minister of the Environment, Dr. Denis Lowe, who has also underscored the need to focus on the youth, since he believes that this will be the group from which change will occur.
"One of the reasons why we have embarked on the Schools Environmental Partnership Programme is to really get our children involved. I do believe that the change is going to come from this level, moreso than from the adults," he opined.
With regard to the citizenry, Dr. Lowe explained:???? "We are seeking to encourage our citizens to be more conscious of the environment. There are some laws on the statute books that can be used to discourage illegal dumping, I am not convinced, however, that they are rigid enough."
Noting that a new Environmental Management Act was currently being worked on, Dr. Lowe said it was expected to provide the state with greater enforcement capability relative to illegal dumping.
Acknowledging that some Barbadians were becoming more vocal in terms of reporting incidence of illegal dumping, Minister Lowe underscored the need for the requisite legal enforcement to be put in place.
"We cannot find someone dumping illegally and then just ask them to go back and pick up their stuff. That is just making a mockery of the law. I think that we are going to have to take some other stringent measures," he stressed.
Proposing the installation of cameras in high-visibility areas with an excessive amount of dumping, Minister Lowe disclosed Government was hoping to partner with?? the private sector to roll out?? the programme.
"It is a long-term effort. I do not think ??that the society should expect that there would be an immediate turn around, but I believe that if we are consistent and persistent ??in our efforts that we would get some results pretty soon," he observed.