Enforcement Officers Licensed To Target Litterbugs

Litterbugs beware!

Forest park officer Elise Ramua will be on your case in the Central Division.

Yesterday, Ms Ramua and more than 60 other officers were given certification and identification cards as trained Litter Prevention Officers to be based around the Central Division.

Ms Ramua said she was disturbed that people continued to throw rubbish at Colo-i-Suva Forest Reserve

She said it had been reported in the newspapers that Colo-i-Suva was where a number of people discarded their rubbish.

“Vehicles mostly come at night and dump their rubbish along the roadside,” Ms Ramua said.

“The kind of rubbish which is dumped by people includes vegetable peelings, diapers, papers. Even at times they dump their old refrigerators, old washing machines, gas stoves.”

She added they picked up rubbish every Wednesday only for it to pile up at the same place the very next day.

Ms Ramua said she was very grateful to be part of the workshop and address the issue of littering to people.

These officers such as Ms Ramua now have the authority to fine people caught littering. She said she was ready for the challenge.

Meanwhile, Waisale Tavatuilagi who works as a litter officer at Levuka Town Council, said he was ready to make a difference.

“The reason I participated is because Levuka is experiencing a lot of littering. I am trying to make a difference,” he said.

Mr Wycliffe said the people selected for the role had a huge task.

“They have to be vigilant in their communities and whenever they see littering, they are empowered to fine people $40 and the fine can go up to $10000,” he said.

He added that his message to the officers was that they were to make an impact in their communities and not just fine people, but also educate them and have awareness programmes.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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