Clean-up campaign begins but no sign of dump deal
(CNS): A new campaign to crack down on littering has been launched by the Beautification Task Force (BTF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Ports. The promotion was launched just as the most recent target date for the government to reach an agreement with Dart over the dump has come and gone, with no news yet of a deal.
When CNS contacted the Ministry of Sustainability this week, a spokesperson confirmed that they would be issuing a statement but gave no indication of the current status of the talks, which have continued since Dart became the preferred bidder on the stalled project some six years ago.
Although a preliminary deal was signed by the PPM-led administration just weeks before the elections in May 2021, the current government immediately began raising concerns about that agreement and has been in talks with the Dart consortium ever since.
The increase in waste being generated by the growing population is now putting pressure on the reduced area of the George Town landfill being used for dumping. But fly-tipping or dumping all across Grand Cayman is increasing, which is not only unsightly but a health hazard and damaging to the island as a tourism destination.
“Littering is a serious concern that is placing an increasing burden on society, both financially and environmentally,” Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said in a release from his ministry. “This campaign has my fullest support and aims to reduce littering by preventing, detecting and deterring this type of anti-social behaviour. I hope that all persons who live and work in the Cayman Islands, as well as those who visit our shores, will take note and be encouraged to act responsibly in keeping our islands clean.”
The nationwide campaign runs from 1 August to 31 October using a range of media outlets, such as radio, newspapers, digital advertising, social media platforms, bus shelters and strategically placed roadside signs, officials said in the release.
By leveraging the strengths of each medium, the campaign aims to reach the widest possible audience, conveying the message that littering is a crime and encouraging all members of the community to join the call to action by being a ‘part of the solution not the pollution’.
“It is really important that we restore a sense of pride in our islands and protect our beautiful country, not only for ourselves but for future generations,” said Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden (SAV), who has been given the responsibility by the minister to oversee the Beautification Task Force.
“I have been particularly alarmed by the increase in abandoned vehicles, but messy properties and illegally dumped household items also give the impression that this type of behaviour is acceptable to residents, and the longer it is allowed to continue conveys that there is no momentum towards change or improvement. That is not the case,” she added.
BTF Chairperson Theresa Pitcairn explained that the campaign highlighted our collective responsibility to keep the Cayman Islands clean. “Awareness of the environmental impact of littering has been paired with the legal consequences under the Litter Act (1997 Revision), emphasising the importance of responsible behaviour and the penalties for those who fail to comply,” she said.
All residents and visitors are asked to participate in the campaign by sharing messages that discourage littering, participating in any community clean-up efforts and spreading awareness about the campaign’s purpose.
“Together, let us stand as guardians of these breathtaking islands, working hand-in-hand to combat littering and illegal dumping and to safeguard the Cayman Islands’ natural beauty for generations to come,” Bodden urged as she helped roll out the campaign.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Environmental Health, Health
The main problem is CIG will not pay what it cost to fix the dump. Plain and simple. They must pay for the Airline, Turtle farm, free gas (for the chosen ones),Civil service (the chosen ones), the now 2 billion dollar health care dept, etc. There is nothing left over but more dept to be paid by someone in the future. Put your money on the dump never being fixed by the Caymanian people or government. Ever.
Why is CIG silent about the toxic gases around the Water Authority’s waste treatment plant?
Water Authority Board is asleep…zzzz
Who woke Heather up? oh wait…elections!~
I wonder how many cases a week of bottled water are sold on GCI?
and the dump still sets on fire. Lakeside had to be evacuated due to flames and smoke. CIS has had to evacuate. And now they build Olea houses and A HOSPITAL immediately next to the dump. How easy will that be to evacuate? Sounds hazardous.
Indeed, yet here we find ourselves with the CIG whispering sweet nothings about a litter campaign whilst simultaneously doing nothing about the dump. Lest we forget that Wayne promised that the dump deal would be completed by 31 July….
Nobody cares. Or new species, homo brainless, have been created.
pure and utter drivel from cig again annd yet more empty words.
how many people have been fined for littering?
will wait for answers.
Guessing it’s a similar number to police officers ticketed for failing to indicate.
And guessing same for no front plates and window tint.
Will this campaign be addressing public beach on seven mile beach?
So much trash left on the beach. And those that kindly use the bins provided at public beach and governors beach or George Town barcadere can expect the bins to quickly overflow and the garbage to be sorted and spread around by the chickens. Bigger bins. Bins with lids. More regular emptying of the bins. Enforcement of the littering rules.
But most of all let’s take some pride in our beautiful beaches and behave responsibly. If in doubt please take your litter home and deal with it there.
Caymanians are prideful but show little pride.
I never get the mindset of people trying to stuff their garbage into an already full bin.. take it away with you and put it in your rubbish bin at home if the public ones are full. Really not difficult right?
People don’t want trash in their car. Isn’t that why they throw it out the window while they are driving?
That why its clever to use the plastic bags from stores for car trash to not do this.
Has anyone actually been fined for littering in the history of these islands? Maybe start!
Fat chance of that happening
Nearly a year now, no glass crusher. Symptomatic of gross negligence? No wonder Mt Trashmore II is growing faster than its now dead and rotting mum ever did. The smelly son of Frankenstein is a greedy sick addict, locked in the front room and force-fed a copious diet of everything you can think of by its don’t-care MP guardians. Its belly now bursting out the top of its soiled diaper, leaking toxic bile through weeping bed sores.
Why did we pull the plug on mum’s life support machine without checking she was pregnant first?
New glass crusher soon come, be patient.
Bodden Town beaches were cleaned up days ago and now look like they were cluster bombed by rubbish ordinance.
Fix the damn dump
it is unfixable. Demand Waste Management revolution supported by legislation.
Honestly, this is just adressing one part of a massive elephant in the room that we all refuse to acknowledge, and that is our consumption.
It is our consumption leading to this massive pollution and overuse of a landfill and quite frankly it is massively unnecessary. You might not like to hear it but we need to make some serious policy decisions on the importation of these non bidegradable materials. Until then we are just treating symptoms and not the disease that is slowly poisoning our Beautiful Islands
The disease is too many people. Asking them to give up their lifestyle is a nonstarter.
Too many people consuming the wrong things = consumption problem.
Where is the dump deal Wayne Panton? You have kicked this can down the road for you entire premiership and we are now in August 2023, whereas you most recent self imposed deadline of 31 July 2023 has come and gone (again).