The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net 


IRAM Lewis, MP for Central Grand Bahama, has embarked on an intense clean-up programme in his constituency, particularly in the Eight Mile Rock area where he says there is a rampant litter problem.

He warned police and environmental officials will be enforcing environmental laws to discourage littering and other illegal dumping activities that damage the environment. “Many persons do not care about the environment , and there are many litterbugs in the area. As we clean, in a matter of days when you drive through the area it is filthy because persons come back and empty their trash here,” said Mr Lewis.

Mr Lewis believes keeping the area clean will make it attractive to investors and encourage more economic activity in the area.

He said the “clean and maintain” Central GB initiative includes the area west of Hawksbill Creek to Sunset Village at the Administrator’s Complex in EMR.

Mr Lewis said the effort is supported by local partners such as Sanitation Services, Sharan Pinder, Environmental Health, Local Government, Police, and Urban Renewal.

Clean-up started at 7am on Saturday.

By 11am, Mr Lewis and his team had already worked their way to the Lover’s Beach area where they were planting palm trees along the verges on the bayside.

He warned they would be going after violators of the environment.

“We are going to have to find ways to maintain the cleanliness of the community. The Police, Environmental Health and Urban Renewal went through the community giving out pamphlets to the residents advising them that the environment has a right to be cleaned and that there are local laws that will be enforced to ensure that we do not encourage littering.

“We are asking persons to be whistleblowers and to keep an eye out because they are custodians of their environment and community. We want to encourage economic activities so that when potential investors drive through the community, we want it to appear to be investor-friendly. So again, we expect the community to support and participate in the clean-up initiative, but also the maintenance of the area,” Mr Lewis said.

He urged persons to keep in mind that ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’.

“We are known as a Godly nation, but the way we keep the environment does not reflect that. What I remember growing up in GB is how clean it was and how people who came here always marvelled about how clean the environment was,” he said.

According to Mr Lewis, the initiative will be an ongoing cleanup programme and stressed that persons must understand the importance of keeping the environment clean and that littering a crime punishable by law.

Mr Lewis noted that two weeks ago in New Providence persons were brought before the first Environmental Court to answer to charges of littering.

When asked about oil spills in the area, the Central Grand Bahama MP said that he had not seen any physical signs of oil spills at Lover’s Beach.

“It is one of the most beautiful intimate spots, and I have not seen any oil spill or tar on the beach. The Ministry of the Environment and the oil company are conducting regular patrols in the area to ensure that if there are any spills remediating action is taken right away. So far, we don’t see any physical sign of an oil spill.”

Mr Lewis noted that there are plans to have environmental wardens who will conduct patrols in the area to deter litterbugs.