Labasa Town launched the 2016 national clean-up campaign by the Minister for Local Government, Parveen Kumar yesterday.

The theme this year is ‘An initiative to ensure clean and healthy environment and combat dengue outbreak due to improper waste disposal’.

The launch began with a march through town. During the launch Mr Kumar said all municipal councils would facilitate the Government’s commitment to create a cleaner and safer environment.

“Government has identified waste as one of the key urban management issues faced by the municipal councils due to irresponsible dumping of waste, increasing cartage, disposal and treatment cost, coupled with related environmental and health problems,” he said.

A Ministry of Health and Medical Services study this year revealed a constant increase in dengue fever outbreaks here.

The planned clean-up exercise is to avert the possible outbreak of dengue fever and minimise waste.

The exercise involves the collection, carting and dumping all difficult wastes, including old tyres, white goods (electronic and electrical wastes) and residential backyard wastes such as empty cans, bottles, coconut shells, discarded household utensils in approved municipal councils land fill.

The exercise will be held on a quarterly basis – from February 6 to 20, May 9 to 21, August 15 to 27, and November 7 to 19.

Last year Government announced that there would be a ‘Name and Shame’ column in the media. This will be implemented soon.

Mr Kumar said people found littering would have their photos taken and published for the public to view.

“I challenge all citizens to practice environmental stewardship within your town and communities to protect mother-nature by doing anything you can to prevent further environmental degradation,” Mr Kumar said.

Edited by Paula Tuvuki

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