President Ali wants review of littering laws

President Dr Irfaan Ali says the government is reviewing laws to fight littering, focusing more on using cameras to nab wrongdoers and then impose stricter fines.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Guyana Defence Force Camp Base Ayanganna on Wednesday, President Ali said he already asked Attorney General, Anil Nandall to review the laws and rules governing littering.

“On the issue of garbage and littering, I have asked the Attorney General to review all the rules and laws to reflect the change in landscape of our security, and that is the use of camera evidence against persons who are littering.

“I have asked him to have all of these amendments ready for Parliament because these are key and critical,” President Ali said.

Littering in Guyana is a punishable offence under the Environmental Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013, with fines varying depending on whether the offender is an individual or a company.An individual found littering in a public place can be fined $50,000 while a company found littering can be fined $100,000.

President Ali stressed the importance of attention to small details in building a strong society.

“We can’t develop a society without care and without attention. These, what some may believe are small details, are very important details,” he said.

The President linked environmental responsibility to the country’s growth goals.

“If our society is to be disciplined and if we want to create a Guyana that would be a leader in tourism, technology, food, energy, we must be a leader with conscience, with humanity, and with a sense of environmental stewardship and a quality of life that is second to none,” he noted.