Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka makes a point about the enforcement of the Litter Act that deserves attention.
He says there is an urgent need to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of the Litter Act 2008 through a thorough review.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, he said Fiji’s islands and unique ecosystems must be protected but unfortunately, many Fijians have developed bad habits.
In the face of other national issues this one may pale in comparison. However, if we can’t get this right, then what hope do we have of getting other serious challenges attended to?
Mr Rabuka recounted his earlier trips to China and Japan where he experienced clean roads and roadsides. He informed Members of Parliament that the present enforcement was not discouraging enough.
The fine, he noted, was $40, “whether you dump a car, dump a fridge or plastic bag and get prosecuted, it’s $40!”
In the face of that, the ministry, he said, had been diligently working on strengthening enforcement, which he felt was a key issue.
There were 18 training workshops for public and non-public authorities in Fiji, he said, and 598 litter prevention officers had been trained and appointed.
“In 2019, during the FijiFirst government, all 14 provinces sent provincial conservation officers and litter enforcement officers to be trained under the Act of 2008,” he said.
There was a training plan being developed for new litter prevention officers in this fiscal year.
Despite the progress though, Mr Rabuka said they recognised the Litter Act was outdated.
It lacked the definitions and differentiations needed in many cases to enable effective policing and enforcement.
We feel it is about time too that emphasis is placed on litterbugs.
Try walking around the waterfront along Muanikau or along the Nasese seawall, and you’ll find rubbish scattered all over the place, even with proper rubbish bins in place.
Our beachfronts are brimming with plastic waste.
Fijians are throwing their used plastic bottles of soft drinks and water all over the place.
They discard used food containers and plastic utensils, and other waste because they can!
It’s a lazy way of doing things.
It is unfortunate but true that we have so many lazy Fijians who will discard their rubbish indiscriminately.
They will do that without a care in the world.
There are Fijians who will take up those little shelters for instance along the Suva waterfront, and instead of using the seats, they will sit on the table with their feet on the seats!
It is easier for many of them to just throw their rubbish over their shoulders for instance.
With the Hibiscus Festival now in full swing, we wonder whether Fijians will at least have some sense of appreciation for our environment, and not throw their rubbish into the Suva Harbour.
We hope there is enough common sense to keep our seafront clean and free of rubbish.
The question is will this happen!
This is a serious issue that demands our attention!
The PM’s call is a positive step towards addressing an issue that is already getting out of hand!
