Andrea Downer, Features Writer
Almost 50 per cent of tickets issued by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) within a three-month period this year were issued to persons who urinated in public.
This was revealed by Andre Wiltshire, director of enforcement and compliance at the NSWMA. According to Mr. Wiltshire, of the 531 tickets, which were issued to members of the public between May and August this year for various breaches of the National Solid Waste Public Cleansing Regulation, 232 were issued to persons who urinated in public.
He said the agency began enforcing the regulation, which was introduced in 2001, in May this year. The regulation, which falls under sections 46-48 of the National Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, replaced the Litter Act, which was repealed in 2000 and seeks to stem widespread littering of public spaces.
Offences in the regulation
"The regulation covers five offences. Depositing litter in a public place, which carries a fine of $2,000, breaking a bottle or any article made of glass in a public, $5,000, littering on a premises without the consent of the owner, $5,000, putting up a poster or graffiti or defacing a public building or any structure in a public place, $3,000, employing or recruiting persons to put banners or graffiti in a public place, $10,000," Mr. Wiltshire stated.
He said while the regulation has been in effect since 2000, it was not being enforced before May.
"Different (parish) councils did their thing under the Litter Act, but once it was repealed, nothing was being done," Mr. Wiltshire revealed.
According to Mr. Wiltshire, the programme began as a pilot project in areas of Kingston and St. Andrew, Portmore and Montego Bay. The pilot was concluded in July this year and the programme was then rolled out in three additional parishes: St. Thomas, Manchester and St. Ann. He said that logistics prevent the NSWMA from introducing the programme in other parishes.
"We have to target parishes closest to regional offices as that's where the fines are paid," he stated, while acknowledging that all 14 parishes have problems with littering.
He said limited resources also prevent the agency from widening the programme, as there are only 31 enforcement officers employed to the NSWMA and they all operate within the Corporate Area. He said the agency receives support in enforcement in the other parishes from members of the Island Special Constabulary Force.
More littering committed
However, while the NSWMA is identifying more persons who commit littering offences, the agency is having difficulties collecting the fines. Mr. Wiltshire said only 30 per cent of persons ticketed pay their fines. He told The Gleaner that of the 531 tickets issued for littering between May and August this year, the NSWMA has collected fines for only 155.
He said warrants are issued for persons who do not attend court to answer to the charges and pay fines, but admitted that it is sometimes difficult to locate persons with outstanding warrants.
"We face similar challenges that the police face in issuing warrants to traffic offenders, as most times the identification used to verify addresses are driver's licences, which is valid for five years and people relocate at times," Mr. Wiltshire explained.
He said that despite the high delinquency rate in paying fines for littering and other breaches of the Solid Waste Public Cleansing Regulation, he thinks that the programme to clamp down on offenders has been successful.
"What we need is a dedicated presence on the road to catch persons when they do litter," he stated.
He said the NSWMA would be launching a Public Education campaign in October this year in an attempt to educate the public about offences and the sanctions they are likely to face if they litter.
