Two tonnes or almost 2000 kilograms of rubbish was collected from the Lami foreshore last weekend during a cleanup organised by community stakeholders and the Lami Town Council.

Suva and Lami special administrator Isikeli Tikoduadua said rubbish at the Lami foreshore was a result of people throwing it upstream, and the constant dumping into the ocean.

The foreshore was riddled with tyres, bottles, engine parts and various plastic.

“We like to thank members of the community who organised the cleanup last weekend. We have members of the public who are concerned about the environment,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

“Why did we need the cleanup in the first place? It is because people have been dumping rubbish, and others have chosen to ignore what will become of our oceans and rivers if we continue down this path.”

Mr Tikoduadua said the Lami Town Council would be taking a proactive approach in clamping down on offenders.

He said creating awareness on the proper disposal of rubbish and adhering to disposal guidelines was everyone’s responsibility.

Akata Matai of Suvavou Village, said tyres and other kinds of rubbish would wash ashore on the shoreline.

She said the same beach was used by children of Lami every afternoon.

Another Lami resident, Jainesh Singh hopes that people stop treating rivers and oceans as dumpsters.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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