The new Clean Environment Policy will provide guidance for securing a clean Fiji for all Fijians through decentralised com­munity-based, awareness, readiness and litter enforcement programmes.

Minister for Waterways and Envi­ronment, Mahendra Reddy said that they would start the implementation of this new policy with the establish­ment of a Litter Prevention Unit/Community Clean Environment Unit.

The ministry will also see to the full implementation of the Litter Act of 2008.

“Activities such as national envi­ronment clean up campaigns, annual clean schools competitions and an­nual national clean village/commu­nity competitions will be organised to further readiness and advocacy in communities,” Mr Reddy said.

“It will be done by the Litter Pre­vention Unit /Community Clean En­vironment Unit in conjunction with awareness officers of the Department of Environment and the Waste Man­agement and Pollution Control Unit.

“To increase advocacy, the ministry will further appoint village/commu­nity champions and work towards the establishment of village/community environment committees.

“Interested individuals, village, faith and youth groups need to register with the Department of Environment to partake in the above activities.”

He urged the public to upload or send videos and photographs of those who litter to the ministry which will assist in prosecuting offenders.

“The Clean Environment Policy shall enforce the penalties as speci­fied under Part IV of the Litter Act of 2008. I hope that we take full own­ership of our environment and work towards a litter-free Fiji.”

Edited by Percy Kean