Environment Minister Urges Personal Responsibility in Tackling Littering Crisis
During the budget debate in parliament yesterday, Environment Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph took a firm stand against the prevalent issue of littering in the country.
Drawing from his recent travels to Dubai and China, the minister highlighted the need for citizens to take personal responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.
Minister Joseph began by dispelling the notion that St. John’s is inherently dirty, recounting his recent experiences in Beijing, a bustling metropolis with millions of residents.
He emphasized his surprise at the cleanliness of the Chinese capital, where he did not spot a single piece of litter on the ground.
“So you hear on the radio, St. John’s dirty. What the minister doing first of all? Well, I don’t live in St. John, and what is not being said in this country is that paper don’t have legs,” the minister asserted, urging citizens to discard the habit of blaming authorities for the littering issue.
He emphasized that the problem is fundamentally a human one and stressed the importance of individual accountability.
“It is time that we call out the people of this country and say enough is enough. Stop blaming people and authorities for the filth in the city or the filth anywhere. It is a human problem, and individuals must fix it,” Minister Joseph declared.
The minister acknowledged that while littering is against the law, it is crucial for citizens to actively address the issue and not rely solely on legal consequences.
He encouraged fellow parliamentarians to speak out against littering when witnessed, saying, “When you see somebody behaving in that way, Mr. Speaker, you should go up and said shame on you, pick it up.”
Minister Joseph also shared his frustration with the recurring issue of cleaning efforts being nullified by continued littering.
“I drive into St. John every morning, you know, by Robert Hall. That is a beautiful stretch of God, and Mr. Speaker, we clean it today, and tomorrow there’s bottles on the side,” he lamented.
“We will continue to speak about this, so I want to get into some specifics, Mr. Speaker, and for the ACT, I tell you, we did, and they’re not doing their work,” he declared, signaling his commitment to tangible solutions in the ongoing battle against littering in the country.
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Peopl3 need to take pride in their damn selves and their country. I drive behind people all the time and see them throwing stuff out their car. I see people dumping where they shouldn’t. Come on man. Where is our civic pride? And these people that have properties in town and otherwise can do better. Government cannot be responsible for every and anything that goes wrong. People are hired to do jobs. Do your jobs caused you are paid to do so. It’s so sickening now. We have no love for our own country. Come on, let’s get it together man, regardless of our political affiliation. Arwe to nasty
The island used to have a Public policy surrounding littering. However, when the buildings look run down and the roads are terrible, why bother to care about litter? The beautification of our tourist and business districts needs to be a proactive process. Provide grants and help, even work for young people to paint buildings and paint government offices.
Look at the Cultural Department with abandoned furniture in the yard and grass overgrowing in places. Got mold growing on buildings. These other countries invest in these things so people take pride in the place. it doesn’t start with pride.
People follow good leadership.
Teach the children not to litter in schools. From kindergarten go right up through primary and secondary school. Make it part of the curriculum. Presently, they see their parents litter and think that it is okay. Nobody is telling them otherwise.
While littering is an individual issue the fact remains that the GOVERNMENT also plays a role in the maintenance of the city. We recently saw a massive overhaul in Heritage Quay, the buildings were all painted and the pavement was recast. Can’t the same be done in the rest of St. John’s at the expenses of property owners and their tenants?
Sir Molwyn needs to accept some responsibility. He is the Minister of Health, the disgusting state of St. John’s is his business and the lack of corrective action is his fault. Fine persons who litter heavily if needs be but stop acting as though litter is the only issue. St. John’s is suffering from lack of maintenance and no regulation.
Too many foreigners are taking up space on the side walks and in the roads to peddle goods, they need to be removed and located to appropriate spaces. If they can’t be relocated then perhaps the need to be told they cannot peddle their goods in St. John’s. The city needs to be properly managed.
Additionally business owners and property owners are not mandated to maintain their buildings. The government is able to intervene to correct these problems.
Woods parking lot is now a market with more foreigners selling their goods in the make shift shanty town north and south of the pond. The government is able to intervene and chooses not to.
The constant shuffling of blame to citizens is sickening now.
@ littering is not the only problem…
I think there was something done to that effect where the store owners were mandated to update the current situations of their buildings. However, I think it needs to be effected full force. It’s despicable. As for the Wood’s situation. I totally agree. I hate to see it. Dem need fu go elsewhere. Where a lot of these people come from, this would not be condoned or accepted. Fin’ place an’ put dem, but not dey.
Interesting talk coming from the former Minister of Tourism….
How much is Mr. Green collecting for subpar management and oversight of St.John’s?
St.John’s is rundown. Bad roads, derelict buildings and raw sewage flowing.
I love my land of birth. To see our capital city continue to be disregarded. Is troubling.
How condescending from Molwyn ‘AstraZeneca’ Joseph.
You are only highlighting this issue because the majority of constituents are living in rubbish and garbage strewn ABLP areas (as in the AG and Prime Minister’s) that have recently been filmed and photographed. Shameful!
Furthermore, you well an’ know that in over the years, garbage collection was disrupted by wage disputes and overtime payments – this has had an overall effect!
And I wonder why he didn’t mentioned this in his speech?
Furthermore, ‘Mr Condescending’, where I reside, myself and my neighbours keep the outside and adjacent areas nice and tidy.
Stop treating Antiguans like dem is your own children, and treat dem like adults.
Well I am so happy this story came up. Two weeks ago I was listening to VoP and the issue of littering came up. As expected Paul and his female host were busy lamenting how Antigua is dirty. A caller then started to question where is our civic pride and that Molywn cannot be blamed for Antigua being dirty. As expected Paul and his female host then tried to deflect on what the caller was saying to then lay blame at Molwyn. What was bemusing though is that the caller then said it is not Molwyn throwing garbage etc it is the people and they should clean it up. The female host in her one track brain went on to note that it is Molwyn who is responsible as people can only do so much. I shook my head and said you ever hear such folly. People can only do that much when they are the same one dirtying up the place!!! How about not doing it in the first place.
Typical case of politics trumping commonsense.
Molywn I have one peeve which I can hold you responsible for. Why hasnt anything being done on Lauchland Henry drive with the waste water from the apartment complex higher up. Is it because of friend and company why this eye sore cant be addressed?
Put the proper, matrices in place, to deal with #RECYCLING, #COMPOSTING, etc, and much of the garbage can be controlled!
Fines for littering is a MUST! Put litter wardens on every block(utilize some of the Government paper pushers and chair warmers.
Fines should be from Community Services for minors and teens!
Monetary fines for adults.
Monetary fines, all the way to suspension of business licenses for businesses, that doesn’t comply.
On another note, the large influx, of TRANSIENTS #who’re using Antigua as a stepping stone to greener pastures are contributing. The now budding(pun intending) red light district, open air alcohol bars/speakeasy’s are contributing too!
There are some things which #CIVIC_PRIDE cannot fix. Especially, when the Street Life, Fast Life, Fast Money, Easy Money is a part of the lifestyle’s being promoted and lived.
Jumbee Picknee aka Ras Smood
Wao!!!! How many pretty words in this article,I’m dreaming???.
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