DO not take up the responsibility of a litter prevention officer (LPO) if you think it is an added responsibility to your day-to-day job.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change permanent secretary Dr Sivendra Michael said this during the officers’ enforcement training program at the Suva Civic Centre on Friday last week.
“What we are doing now is the vision of the Prime Minister, that is to get all civil servants to come up to be nominated LPOs, because by law, public office holders are allowed to be litter prevention officers,” Dr Michael said.
“So, we have asked all your respective permanent secretaries to nominate you or individuals that want to take on this responsibility.
“Now, I will be very frank with you. This is how you perceive it.
“If you are thinking that this is an added responsibility to your day-to-day job and you don’t want to be part of the change that can deter the littering issue, or address the littering issue, please raise it with your permanent secretary and do not take the responsibility of our LPO.
“Because to be an LPO, it means that if on a Saturday, you see someone doing that (littering), you issue the fine.
“It doesn’t mean that it’s a Saturday or Sunday that you cannot do it.”
He reminded the officers that after issuing fines, their job then would be to file the paperwork with the prosecution office, in case the person might not want to pay the fine and challenge the issue.
“So, you will go through all of these details — how do you fill the fine book, how do you go and get a JP to vet that form, how do you register it within seven days in the courts in case this person is not going to pay the fine.
“So, for every fine that we issue, we are thinking that this issue is going to likely end up in court.”
Dr Michael said neither the Ministry of Environment nor the town councils would be able keep the environment clean on their own.
“I’m going to say this very frankly, town councils are never going to take on the responsibility that it’s only their job to keep their towns and cities clean.
“Because everybody thinks that it’s the Department of Environment and the media needs to know this as well because it’s a collective responsibility.”
