The annual cleanse

It’s that time of year again. Volunteers from across our country descend on our coastlines with a unified goal: removing trash. Volunteers come newly outfitted in corporate attire, promoting their company’s commitment to not only clean our coastlines, but also assist in valuable data collection, carefully logging the number of plastics, glass and other items found on our beaches. Schools are represented by their various environmental clubs and scout groups, other NGOs and interested parties join the fray and, together, we battle the sun and stench while removing other people’s trash.

This year, our group assisted other volunteers at Bay Road, Orange Valley, Couva. Admittedly, it was the first time I visited that particular area. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that at the end of the road where the local fishermen tied their pirogues was a view that could rival any visit to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. The surrounding trees were covered with the bright red of our Scarlet Ibis, and not more than 50 feet away were flocks of flamingos peacefully going about their morning.

Yet, the general stench of the area and heaps of trash robbed us of what could have been promoted as a natural bird-watching site. While we were loading the bags of trash onto the truck, an old lady from the area who had been sitting and observing for the better part of the morning remarked, ‘Alyuh wasting alyuh time, by Monday it getting back de same way.’

The truth of her statement reminds me of how little we actually do to take care of our country.

The dedication of various companies and NGOs to get involved and assist in clean-up campaigns is evident and noticeable. After all, it is difficult to miss the brightly coloured T-shirts with loud and proud logos that let us know a company is represented.

Those t-shirts, transportation vehicles, overtime (if applicable), posters and tea plates all come at a cost. But it starts and ends in one day, while we continue to suffer the other 364 days of the year. What about energy and money dedicated to purposeful agitation?

The Beverage Container Bill has been debated, discussed, put on the front burner, ignored and sometimes forgotten for several decades now. It seems any other issue can be debated, amended and passed into legislation without even ensuring the provisions are all worth reducing into writing, but legislation that can assist our environment appears to not be worth the time, effort or agitation.

Recycling is a topic which is taught in our schools. Not necessarily implemented but taught. There are certain communities that have found a dedicated location for recycling bins, as well as various programmes encouraging the return of plastic and glass bottles, etc.

Not all of these are easily accessible. It does not make recycling easy and it entails actually making an effort. The sad truth is that if we need to make an effort, many of us will not.

Our coastlines, lonely village areas, swamps and roadsides are all dedicated free dumping grounds. It has become evident that there is no fee, charge or fine to deter anyone, so while doing home clean-up or renovation or building, we simply dump unwanted material wherever we desire. Then, once a year, a group of volunteers will attempt to move as much as they can.

Our existing laws have bestowed enforcement powers on our Litter Prevention Wardens, which is inclusive of our municipal police and even public health officers.

The benefit of these enforcement powers is yet to be realised. While we are familiar with the various dumping grounds within our communities, the people who should be conducting regular patrols, highlighting and charging individuals seem to be the only group of people who are unaware that dumping occurs in those areas. There appears to be no genuine interest in curbing our littering problem and no proper enforcement of the existing laws.

There are various measures that can be implemented to assist in alleviating these concerns. Surveillance cameras (CCTV) can be installed in areas which are prone to dumping and at our favourite weekend destinations. Municipal police, litter wardens and police officers can regularly patrol these areas to enforce our existing legislation.

Several charges for littering the beach on a busy day may be sufficient incentive for other beach goers.

Regional corporations need to expand their solid waste collection. The increased frequency of collection may well result in persons being more willing to arrange collection of their bulk waste rather than feeling the need to dump their items.

At this point, it could be suggested that campaigns are done to encourage persons within the communities to report persons who are seen or caught dumping. There are many areas where people already do this, but towards what end. Police officers do not respond to calls of dumping; it is rare that they follow up on such calls or that persons are charged. If we are to encourage persons to act, then we also need to encourage those with the power to use it.

Next year, we will again get dressed, descend onto our coastlines, remove tonnes of trash and perhaps once more I will complain about our failure to enforce. Pollution is a growing problem because our consumption is also increasing.

Should we fail to address these issues now, it will only continue to grow out of control. It seems that we fail to see pollution as a problem affecting us all. We are sitting idly by and watching our land, water and air become polluted every day.

Hopefully, we will decide to act before the problem becomes insurmountable.

Pavitra Ramharack is head of chambers at Pavitra Ramharack Attorneys at Law and can be reached at [email protected]