Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

Since the start of the year, close to 500 persons have been ticketed under the anti-litter ticketing system. According to the The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the bulk of the offenders, which currently stands at approximately 289, have been charged for urinating in public.

Offences punishable under this act include littering or disposing of garbage in any public space, littering or disposing of garbage on someone else's premises without their consent, defacing public property or public space. Employing persons to deface public property or public space also warrants a fine.

$2,000 to $10,000 fines

The fines range from $2,000 to $10,000, and according to enforcement director and compliance at the NSWMA, André Wiltshire, persons who do not pay the fines will be summoned to a court appearance. When this is done, he says, the decision thereafter is entirely up to the court.

Since the implementation of the anti-littering system in May 2007, the NSWMA, in order to enforce the act, has aids across the island. Members of the Island Special Constabulary Force are able to issue tickets to violators as well as traffic wardens and authorised officers under the NSWMA Act, among others.

Last year, 734 persons were ticketed and charged for breaching the act, of which urinating in public again had the most offenders. The NSWMA says the enforcement of this act is intended to mitigate or fight the problem of littering and illegal dumping.

Additional information found on www.letskeepitclean.org