An irate citizen yesterday sent pictures of roadside rubbish at Saweni, Lautoka, to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

The pictures underscored the growing public outrage over indiscriminate, illegal dumping of rubbish which the Fiji Sun has been highlighting.

They followed pictures taken by Mike Jamieson (Evergreen International Fiji Manager Security Western Division) of a waste management truck dumping rubbish at Nabou, Nadroga.

Mr Bainimarama said: “I was sent some photos of rubbish dumped in Saweni along the main road couple of minutes ago. It’s not nice.

“Many of our communities and beaches are strewn with litter and once pristine parts of Fiji are now covered in rubbish.”

Mr Bainimarama said the pictures were sent to his phone while he was on his way to launch the plastic bag levy and reusable cloth shopping bags to replace plastic bags at RB Patel Centerpoint at Laucala Beach, Nasinu.

“Throughout Fiji many of our people are rubbishing their country in ways they would never rubbish their homes,” Mr Bainimarama said at the launch.

He issued a stern warning that individuals or businesses caught dumping rubbish anywhere in Fiji would face the full brunt of the law.

“I want to send a clear message to any other individual or business that thinks of dumping rubbish anywhere in Fiji, you will be caught and you will be punished to the full extent of the law,” he said.

The sad reality was, Mr Bainimarama added that business interests had proven to be very poor stewards of Fiji’s national environment.

He specifically mentioned that earlier this week that an employee of a major waste management company was caught dumping rubbish in Nadroga.

“My Government has ordered an immediate investigation into that illegal dumping, and will take appropriate legal action to punish those responsible,” Mr Bainimarama said.

He said if people were directed to dump rubbish illegally they should report that instruction immediately to the relevant authorities.

He said Fijians were lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

“People from all over the world dream of the chance to see our beaches and reefs, experience the mountains, forests and waterfalls that we are blessed to call part of our home,” Mr Bainimarama said.

It was obvious, he said, that the gratitude to keep Fiji clean was lost.

“I say that because-unfortunately-many of our people feel it is okay to treat our home with disrespect by turning our islands into a rubbish dump,” he said

Mr Bainimarama said the road the Coral Coast in Sigatoka was littered with roadside rubbish.

“Many of your beaches, roadways and communities are strewn with litter, and once-pristine parts of Fiji are now covered in refuse,” he said.

He said the damage done did not remain on land as much of it ended up in the sea swept down by storm water drains into rivers.

Mr Bainimarama said this rubbish end up into open waters polluting our reefs and damaged the reputation of a beautiful and pristine island destination.

He said the amount of litter in Fiji was embarrassing.

“I am ashamed by it, we should all be ashamed by it because every piece of rubbish that is dumped across our islands represents a choice, a choice made by an individual or a business to do the wrong thing, and it represents a decision to disrespect our home and our fellow Fijians,” Mr Bainimarama said.

He added it was high time that people start doing something about the issue.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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