Are these Rubbish Prank Signs?
I have scoured this community and I have found out that everywhere there is a Sign which says “No Dumping HERE” or “NOTICE: Penalty 5000.00 or 1 month imprisonment”, there is actually a heap of rubbish dumped right there. Are these some scare tactics used to try and mitigate the amount of dumping done? Are these signs made/erected by our very concerned neighbours?
I have yet heard of anyone fined or imprisoned for dumping of rubbish where they ought not too, but I’ve heard folks mention who is doing the dumping though.
Now are we so loyal to our fellowmen that we refuse to report these issues to the authorities. Are we so thoughtless of how dangerous these things are to our health. Or like everything else that inflict change in this community, wait till something fatal happens to a child due to this, THEN take action. Magwa’ Sa Gwatas!
One of the Dumps
About The Author
j.joseph
its high class nastieness to be dumping rubbish around the environment in which we live in. those who commites this willfull act does not see that its have a negative impact on our environment?
I believe that solid waste need to be more proactive when its comes to the dumping of rubbish. the town council should seek to have its own Rubbish truck. hey look at its. We live in a town ok. DSW does not care about possie.
Ashton
Tonight we had the first of our ward meetings at the Youth Centre in lagoon.
Though it was publicized, sadly only ten (10) persons attended the meeting. We went on for two hours and residents put forward a number of questions which were dealt with by councilors.
D.Nyerere
I am really grateful that you released this information. I actually thought the council was responsible for all of those things. If these things keep on as it is going man, I really feel sorry for our sanitation around these parts man. This is a damn shame.
Ashton
had to stop .. could go on .. but dont want to be too long
Ashton
Hmmm,
Now Drinnon, you think like me. The problem, besides the fact that people should have pride enough in their community not to litter, is one of collection!
You see .. even if you dont litter and you put your garbage on the roadside on the designated days .. half the time the truck never shows up.
Now you might think that it is the council who collects the garbage … “WRONG!” The Dominica Solid Waste Corporation does that… all over the island. Now the last time when my frustration drove me to calling in the newspapers and DNO to come have a look at the mess in Possie , I found out from a source at DSW that they had only one compactor truck servicing the whole island!!
Courtesy http://www.dominica.gov.dm “The Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation is a statutory body responsible for the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste.”
I found out that they started out with six trucks and were now down to one due to wear and tear and trucks breaking down.
The DSW act was passed in 1996 and they started operations sometime thereafter. Alarming as it is that 5 out of six trucks are out of commission, it is even more alarming that since starting 14 years ago you / we have never seen an addition to the DSW fleet of trucks.
Immediately you know that one compactor truck cannot service the entire island efficiently, add to that the eventual breakdowns of that truck.
Now in a meeting with solid waste one of the reps were quick to point out that the problem in Possie is that people do not put out their garbage on the scheduled dates. Off course i was incensed by that allegation. Not that some persons are not guilty of the practice, but that solid waste would even think of using that as an excuse for their obvious failings in Portsmouth.
The council has submitted proposals to central government on more than one occasion seeking funding for the purchase of its’ own truck. I don’t have to tell you what the result has been thus far. It is pretty obvious. The solution goes way beyond one truck though.. so even with a truck the council would still be in a bit of a bind as far as providing the required disposal services for Portsmouth.
I believe the council needs two trucks, one compactor and one tipper truck. We also need to establish a compost site to deal with all organic waste. That along with other waste management measures may present a solution.
I would not destroy the signs … not even as a form of protest.
D.Nyerere
Are there any laws that will incriminate me if I was to destroy all these signs to make a statement as to how useless it is? I would gladly love to make a viral video on this, featuring Ashton Riviere, Errol Hill and other council members.
Lets look back on the attempts in chronological order with this garbage issue. Before it was those huge bins, every ward had one to two of them. Everyone will carry that garbage in bags and plastics and those in those bins. Days after the rubbish truck will come pick it up. However, when the rubbish truck broke down, then people will continue to throw their gabbage till the bin is filled to the brim and then start putting it on the side of the bins. Prime example occured in Zicack. People couldnt even utlize the road. That road by Value Max. Then it was those plastic bins that was placed on the sides of the electric poles all over. That worked well till some folks start stealing them. What was left rubbish was even thrown at the top of the lid because no rubbish truck was there to pick it up. Now people are leaving their rubbish on the side of the road for the rubbish truck to pick up. When the rubbish truck dont show up, dogs and fowls mess with the bags and spread the rubbish like wild fire. Now a whole week has passed and the place stinking.
I believe, that if the Rubbish truck were ontime, everytime, there will be none of this mess. Why do we just have one truck passing around how much wards in the community? When it breaks down the end result is chaotic. Where are the alternates? Are these alternates as effective and efficient?
The persons/equipments doing the cleanup is where our focus should be in this resolution process. This is a matter of “If you dont have a toilet at your home, the sea, bush and river will do”.
Ashton
@ Drinnon,
that baffles me too. These signs are usually placed by the environmental health dept, sometimes by citizens trying to deter the dumping.
The council can deal with this only if we were to draft a locally applicable litter ordinance.
as it is now the litter act provides that every police officer, environmental health officer, town constable, rural constable, forest ranger, park warden, road superintendent, road supervisor, chairman and clerk of the the council are litter wardens. however you can imagine that without dedicated wardens the act is basically useless. Esp given the efficiency or lack of it of our court system.
Also, now , besides keeping the town clean there is nothing in it for the council to pursue the prosecution of offenders. All fines go to central govt.
A local ordinance or by-law of the council could deal with that.
The next thing is that persons need to take more pride in their community. Even when garbage is placed out for collection .. the practice of putting it on the ground leads to pillage by dogs fowls etc … simply placing it out of reach of animals would go a long way towards solving this problem.
plant a pole on which to hang it , hang it on a fence, build a storage facility , bin, shed …
D.Nyerere
Stitches my foot. Making a report on a cause like that can be done very anonymously without the person finding out who reported them. What saddens me is how can we PROVE that he person in question actually violated the law/sign. The law disputes any images or video in the court of law as evidence least the person who made the report owns a license videography/photography business.
So at the end fo the day, this is a loose-loose situation. Good luck with them and that 5000 cash “reward”.
Sometimes you knwo I say to myself I wish things get real out of hand, let these gabbage stay there and fester till someone get hospitalized. I know it sounds a bit harsh but from time to time the thought hits me. Why? because ive noticed too, that’s the only time people act around here.
brap
lmao, that person badminded lmao.. No one gonna snitch and say who does it though cause I’ve heard that snitches get stitches
starr
the person that dumping it there better doe make me know is they cuz i will sell them out…..that is high class nastiness ppl,i pass there one morning and i jus had to shake my head them ppl that dumping there doe easy.
hhmmm
some people just bad minded. Keep our environment clean.
bronson
I share the same sentiment my dear sir .. Its time we start doing what’s right for the community and stop thinking about one particular individual. I am sure that person sees the sign just like everyone else
I thank u