PM Browne Criticizes Litter Wardens for Lack of Enforcement
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for greater accountability among litter wardens, accusing them of failing to enforce regulations against illegal dumping and waste disposal.
“They are not doing anything. They’re not bringing anybody [to justice],” Browne said. “I believe they should be placed on commission—if you don’t get a citation, you don’t get paid.”
The Prime Minister said stricter enforcement is necessary to maintain cleanliness in communities across Antigua and Barbuda. He pointed to areas where waste, including old vehicles and discarded pallets, continues to accumulate due to a lack of enforcement.
“I personally will go and tell them to clean up the place. You cannot be destroying the country like that,” he stated.
Browne also criticized businesses and vendors who contribute to unsanitary conditions.
“We clean up the country, and we’re appealing to vendors to take some responsibility,” he said.
“We cannot allow anyone to trample on the pride of our country and our desire to have a beautiful environment.”
He compared the situation to other Caribbean nations, saying that even smaller countries with fewer resources have managed to keep their streets cleaner.
“I’ve been to Montserrat. Little Montserrat next door is far cleaner than Antigua and Barbuda. They have less money than us, no risk of a volcano, and yet they keep their spaces clean,” he said.
Browne said that cleanliness should not be a privilege but a basic expectation.
He warned that those who fail to maintain proper sanitation standards may face consequences as the government moves to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
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Govt workers don’t want to work. Big surprise!!
Listen. I am in agreement with the PM. I see so much garbage is being dumped all over the place, and noting for it. People need to stop and the wardens need to enforce the law so we stop practicing dumping as we like. The country is too nasty. No civic pride whatsoever.
I was beginning to wonder myself about the litter situation. In recent times, the whole of St.John’s and its suburbs have become a serious eyesore. Garbage piled high everywhere, some in bins that have obviously remained uncollected and so the extra garbage spilled into the streets and gutters and surrounding areas!!! Lower Market Street, an area traversed regularly by tourists who land daily. Ottos generally, several sites in the St Geotge Street area. I was recently on my way to Brownies via St.Georges Street and, my goodness!! There was a Hispanic gathering in a yard cluttered with bottles, cans, paper -a virtual rubbish heap – sitting around a table nonchalantly eating and drinking and playing some kind of table game. It was such a horrendous site that I had to circle the area twice to make sure that I was seeing the true picture.
Then drive into Clare Hall. There is a vacant unoccupied plot of land that seems to have received official permission to be used as a dumping site – mattresses, old household furniture, bottles.cans, paper.. To which government agency can I address these concerns. This is a new development. This is NOT the Antiguan way!!! Maybe one needs to check out the employment practices of those responsible for hiring these “wardens”. They cannot be locals! If so fire them immediately; they are just damn nasty and lazy. If they are Hispanics Jamaicans Guyanese or whatever, the riot act needs to be read to them, letting them know that these are not our standards! Failure to comply should result in immediate termination. The supervisor and the higher ups must also be held accountable. The place is in an awful state and needs to be addressed SOONEST!.
Check the road up by gi gi and merriland park that the Chinese liter on and the garbage is now on people’s land. The letter warden says it’s not on the road anymore even thou I showed the videos