Tourism Minister Robert Tonge, is of the view that the fine of EC$5,000 to anyone found disposing garbage illegally may be a bit to “steep.”
He is of the opinion a second look must be taken at the law with the view of lowering the fine which he thinks will have impact on the indiscriminate dumping of garbage.
“We have wardens but again Dominica is a very small place and you practically know almost everybody, so when you see someone dumping rubbish and you are going to have to charge them 5,000 I think it might be a little bit steep,” he said. “So we have to re-look at this law and after we look at enforcement, and I think, that is my take on it, I think we should charge a smaller amount.”
He also gave a scenario of a smaller fine and its potential impact on indiscriminate garbage disposal.
“If I charge you a $100 today and you throw garbage tomorrow and I charge you a $100 by the time I have charged you three times you are going to stop throwing the garbage,” he opined. “So we have to re-look at that and ensure that enforcement is put in place, not the crux stop with us. We need to put out garbage at the right time and we need to not throw garbage indiscriminately.”
Tonge is also shooting down claims that indiscriminate garbage disposal is a problem only in Roseau and environs.
“You have persons throwing garbage in all areas and when you go on the sea, you look at the hills and you see a trail of garbage, it really looks horrible. So we have the power in ourselves to be that change. Let us start doing that change,” he said.
He noted that while many lay the blame at the feet of the government, “garbage does not grow, garbage does not have feet, and garbage does not have legs; so obviously someone has to put the garbage there and I think it is time that all of us have to do our part to ensure that our surroundings are clean, not just for tourists but for ourselves.”
He continued, “We come first. By putting the garbage out there we are increasing the chances of rodents and illness and so we all have to do our part now not to throw garbage and also the respected organizations also have to do their part to ensure that they pick up the garbage on a timely basis.”
The Tourism Minister said citizens must put garbage out at the designated time for pick up.
I think the suggestion makes a lot of sense. People are not getting charged because the fine is too high. That is expected because Dominicans like to side with the underdog. However, if we all feel like the charge is reasonable then we won’t feel bad to report people or to charge them. He is right – after paying $100.00 three times, you will ask yourself a question.
I agree with the suggestion. Pattern on the traffic ticket system.. Low fines, over and over again. A steady flow of income into the treasury. After 3 fines, the dumping will stop.
it seem that tropical storm Erick brought out the true colors of those ministers and the labour party. everyday its issues of mismanagement, misuse, lies and immorality… if is not st jean is robbi or blackmoore… Dominicans make that change from those brain dead men in office
robbi can you tell us the truth, exactly why skerrit hired you.
There is only one problem with Dominicans and it is at the root of most of our social ills.
LACK OF PRIDE IN OUR COUNTRY.
No law, no constitution will stop me from dumping!!!
I had to laugh lol when i READ THAT, come on my Dominican people take a look at these people we have in Gov do you think there head GOOD reading that news take me right back to the top some weeks ago before the storm the PM came on the news and say to Dominicans that it look like you all having problem paying the licenses fee that is $140 but you know what i think as the PM ill add $150 more to what you already have problem paying that way you can now make the payment easy lol lol its back to front we going in Dominica
I wonder how he arrived at that equation?Boy look rubbish.?? Oh,Oh,?.
I understand his logic, but $100 is too low, and $5000 is too high. While I hate to see trash and disgusted by people who do, it is not practical to get people to $5000.
There needs to be personal responsibility, but if trash is hanging around too long in front any place, the owner, and government have to right to clean up in front their place, and streets, respectively. I was fined couple years ago because a few pieces of trash blown by wind and dropped by pedestrians were in front my apartment. The fine was $130 USD. From that time I was much more vigilant. It seems unfair, fining the owners is easier to justify. It is very difficult to prove someone throw trash except by video, except the caught directly by law enforcer. That’s why no matter how high that fine is, it is not an effective deterrent. Some people are just nasty! We have to educate our kids at school on trash disposal.
Some Dominican have no shame. They continue dumping garbage all over the place. The inhabitants of the capital city just love living in their filth and advertising it to the tourist. Guys wake up and smell the coffee, you are actually showing the world that you are a nasty set of people. What you need is not a change in the fine but a change in behaviour of the people. Fire the litter wardens, they are incompetent.
Soon he will will be known as Minister TALK.
TALK, TALK, TALK. All talk and no action.
Based on that picture alone he should resign!! A picture tells a thousand words. The buck stops with the Minister. You expect tourist arrivals to increase under this state of affairs?
This is so shameful and outrageous!!!!
The problem is not the fine, but the people who have no regard for the health of others. This is a people problem. I can go back to when there was rubbish carts pulled by mules, when there was street sweepers, health inspectors, Rural Constables in uniform determined to keep Roseau and environs clean. The Roseau Town Council even had city garage. People keep their premises clean and dispose their trash in the Roseau river. Later there were keep the City clean campaigns. People cared and did not blame the government for everything. To operate any business should be authorized by license and the maintenance of clean and healthy environment should be a condition.
This situation need drastic action because those harvest conditions will lead to plagues. In some countries litter is a cause for fine and even fine and prison, firemen should be given that kind of
authority and should patrol the city. Where is the mayor. the Parl Reps. Double or triple the fines. Urgent Action now.
“Tourism Minister Robert Tonge, is of the view that the fine of EC$5,000 to anyone found disposing garbage illegally may be a bit to “steep.”(Tonge).
If the above is the opinion Tonge, we see why the citizens of Dominica take advantage of the laws of the land and conduct themselves in any manner which suite themselves. What is the purpose of a tabled, and pass penal code. (a law). Laws are written in order to be a deterrent; (to prevent something) from happening: assuming one adheres to the law. If the penalty for dumping, and littering the streets with trash, garbage and filth is $50,000.00 dollars so let it be!
What give this guy the right to insinuate the fine is too steep? As far as I am concern his stupid comment is nothing more than an encouragement to the offenders. If and when an offender is caught, they given a slap one the back of their hand, that will open the flood gates to others. Tonge, it would be better to simple shut up, when you have nothing important to…
You should see to it that the penalt take full effect instea of amending the laws for lower penalties.you all want to be so stiff on sex offenders so be stiff on indiscriminate garbage disposers.
That picture is probably all over the internet by now for the whole world to see, how clean the “Nature Island” is. Especially on all the travel tourist web sites.
emptied more often. There are areas that are more heavily trafficked by foot pedestrians and so you observe in certain locations always seem to be overflowing, while other spots are almost empty.
5. My last point is perhaps the most important. Cleanliness is an attitude and a state of mind. Unless WE as a nation don’t absorb cleanliness as a unconscious decision, we will never get anywhere. Case in point. My sister who teaches Grade K at a government school related to me of incidents where the school would try to implement a clean-up program at the school, where children would pick up paper and litter(that THEY dropped, mark you) off the classroom floors and on the school grounds.
Parents would march into the school furious that their child ‘picking up rubbish’. If we as parents have a problem with our children being taught to pick up their own mess, where are we really going to go as a Nation?
Just some points to consider.
I get what Mr. Tonge is attempting to say, although he did not explain himself properly. It is easier to charge AND collect a fine of 100-150 dollars rather than $5000.00.
Litter wardens have cousins, neighbours, good pardners all over the city of Roseau. Do you REALLY believe from a societal point of view that it would be easy for a litter warden to watch his cousin, neighbour, good pardner straight in his face and write out a ticket for $5000.00? I don’t think so.
However, I believe the problem of garbage in the city of Roseau is a hydra-monster that must be tackled at the fundamental cause.
1. Clearing out run-down buildings; relocation of persons living in shanties…(yes I said it!)
2. A comprehensive approach to the paro problem. (I will leave the details to MOH)
3. All and I mean ALL drains, gutters need to be entrenched deeper into the ground, covered and re-directed to the sea. (I will leave the details to Planning Division)
4. City Garbage bins to be…
Then he or she should not be a litter warden. The job of those who take an oath or commitment to enforce the law is not to decide who gets fined or whether fine is too high or too low. If they cannot fulfill their responsibility then they should not collect a paycheck nor take the job. It seems that is the order of the day. Police and all decide who to charge or arrest because is a friend, family, or padna.. The law needs to be enforced period until changed by relevant authorities.
The litter wardens should be assigned zones in the city. The litter wardens should be fined when litter is found in their zones in addition to the offender. This should ensure that they do the work they are paid for. Is the post of litter wardens just another category like the red clinic for political supporters to get money?
The litter wardens should have supervisors to ensure that they do their work.
KEEP DOMINICA CLEAN!
The problem of littering and indiscriminate illegal dumping is not a Roseau issue alone; It is an island wide issue. Unless this problem is tackled island wide, the problem will remain.
Whether the fine is $5,000.00 or $100.00, if the Litter Act is not enforced island wide because those charged with the responsibility to do so do not see it as important or if not being able to enforce the Litter Act is due to the lack of adequately Trained Litter Wardens, then the Government should increase the number of Litter Wardens ensuring their presence in every community across the island. This could be done under the National Employment Program (NEP).
There are also over 350 Local Government Councillors serving in 42 Local Government Authorities. Each of these Councillors including the Chair persons and Senior Staff of the Councils should all be designated Litter Wardens who would be expected to help enforce the Litter Act in their respective communities.
Are you joking TONGE? Lowering the fine is like asking the people to dump more garbage. The problem is simple, some Dominicans just don’t have no respect for anything at all. I think instead of lowering the fine it should be increased to send a clear message. When we go to other countries and we have a snack on the street we put the wrap in our bags until we get home but here in dominica we dumping in the streets. What a DAMN SHAME.
Asking to lower the fine is like asking to lower the charges for child molestation that will just increase the problem.
Is this the same minister who said he disagreed with the survey from the Cruise Line industry on Dominica ranking at the bottom?
How about the minister of interior if there is such a person he/she is there job to see the place is clean or be sacked .
They know the $ amount of fine they will have to pay if caught. Why do they still continue dumping garbage in those areas? One would think that once they know the cost of the fine for dumping garbage, it would deter them.
If they are hardhearted and will not comply with the Law, keep the cost for the fine as is.
Minister of Tourism, you will have to send your people to educate those people and to embed in them the cost of the fine for littering.
The undisciplined and non-caring people who dump garbage at any time must be disciplined.
Note the amount of garbage and the tourists (?) have to walk near that. What a shame. I wonder if it is smelling. This dumping of garbage cannot continue to be tolerated. If caught, let them pay the fine. If they cannot afford to pay it, imprison them. This should teach them a lesson. Cease being compassionate for it is obvious they do not care.
The problem of GARBAGE disposal in Roseau has been around for years and we hear the same old GARBAGE.
1.Garbage in the city should be placed out for collection after 5-0pm.in the desicated area.
2.The collection of the garbage. by the a Waste Collection Dept should commence at this time.
3.With an efficient service this should take no more that two hours for the size of Roseau.
4THE STREETS SHOULD BEHOSED DOWN AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY BY THE FIRE DEPT IN THE MAIN TOURIST AREA.
5CAPABLE MANAGEMENT MR. TONGUE SHOULD ENSURE THIS SIMPLE TASK.
Like the commissioner of police who asked for an arsonist to investigate the GON Emmanuel fire, i have one word for the tourism minister comment: Utter rubbish!
New headline:
TOURISM MINISTER WANTS TO MAKE ILLEGAL DUMPING CHEAPER
How many people have actually been charged for illegal dumping?
I am shocked to find out that there are fines in DA for littering. Lived in a # of countries in the Caribbean and every time I walk through Roseau and drive around DA, my stomach churns as nowhere else have I seen such filth. How can people have no issue in living around such filth? It appears to be accepted as the norm. It is high time that 1. litter laws are enforced 2. authorities require householders to put garbage in bins and not on the sidewalks for pick-up 3. business persons hire private contractors to dispose of their garbage. Can’t believe that in 2015, we are satisfied living in such a filthy place. Having so many paros to deal with in Roseau is bad enough but seeing garbage all over DA is really disturbing.
Mr Tonge, your 1st request should be to call for enforcement of the laws. If current wardens are not doing their jobs, I suggest we find others who can. Let’s start now with a public awareness program & then enforcement. I’m disgusted with the FILTHY…
The undisciplined and non-caring people who dump garbage at any time must be disciplined.
We are becoming like Djibouti .
I hope it was not a visitor who took that picture n i hope carnival cruise did not see that picture too
$5,000 can be the best deterrent ;but if there is no facility to depose the rubbish where is the gov’t expecting people to through the rubbish? If the gov’t is not part of the solution they are part of the problem.Trying to prevent people from throwing the rubbish in town does not solve the problem because by all means they will throw the rubbish some where else and it will be still a hazard.This is a very serious problem because the rat population will be on the rise.
Wait is this guy ……….. I mean a fine should be a deterrent. This fine is much too low hence so many people just dump their garbage all over the place.
The aim is for people to stop dumping, right? Is Robbie suggesting that if we lower the fine for doing that people stop dumping that or dump less? I am sorry Robbie but I don’t understand that. Anyway, it is not only in town that is happening. People are dumping builders’ rubble all over the place, old tires, appliances, car batteries and so on. Not one time I see police taking action but they have young police with ticket books to write you a fine for wrong parking. That is easier I suppose.
Mr. Tongue ….Why this GOVT is unable to execute a sound proposal to any of their friendly donor countries like China, Venezuela, or Morocco to provide garbage trucks to pick up garbage on island.
Then install a Garbage Management Committee who is paid to manage and maintain the fleet of Garbage trunks for pick up and disposal . Who’s continual employment is tied to result and performance measurement of the program.
My understand of your statement is…… it is not fair for this GOVT to fine 5K if it is not doing its work in keeping the city clean and addressing the collection garbage…..So until they implement a proper management system and effect management body for garbage collection the fine should be drop.
I Agree …..
The present collection system is rubbish! Back in the 80s we had several trucks with a regular schedule collecting trash weekly. We also had a slew of employees who swept the streets with locally made brooms. This simple system was effective and efficient. Then we moved to the open bins that were manufactured in Canada at first before welders at Public Works were trained to weld them at home. Now, what do we have? Rubbish and more Rubbish!!! When will the city purchase at least one street sweeper to sweep the streets?
Well i kind of agree with Mr. Tonge , people hardly get fined the $5000.00 because there is no one inspecting the sights that is prohibited , and at the end of the day would you really charge someone $5000.00 ? so if the fine is lowered then i guess there will be people at these sights or on the streets and after being fined so many $100 you must stop , i believe a $100 is easier to charge a person than $5000.00. .
Please, the word is “sites”. Thank you
Business Places or Families Should adopt a Street or Block .The adoptee will ensure that their area is kept clean
Oh! Now I understand your logic Mr. Tonge. In other words, what you are saying is, if we want to stop child molesters from sexually abusing our children we need to lower the fine and penalty from what is now to something much less right? So if less say we charge them $100 or 2 weeks in jail for first, second and third offence, they will not want to do it again right? Maybe that to will even help more parents to testify instead of not giving evidence. I sure got you now! Remember I am very slow because I am the perfect idiot
NO you both idiots. You cant make an unfair comparision with garbage and a sexual crime. That is just logic. and you cant lower fines to prevent people from dumping. THat is stupid to. Leave it or raise it not remove it. You all both two idiots in a pod
This garbage issue has been a problem for 6-8 years and it is ridiculous that the authorities cant get it fixed.
If the authorites cant get this right what confidence can the people have in an administration that cant even keep a tiny city like Roseau clean.
I do agree with the minister on the issue of reducing the fine however he has offered no alternatives. Effective management brings solutions problems. I would suggest reducing the fines and implimenting incentives to the wardens for every ticket issued. Restaurants ,business places, residents sbould be given ” garbage bins” with numbers. No bobol included on . Every property owner must be accountable for garbage within their property lines. No garbage to be dispoes only on the days of pickup.
All that said there must be administrative changes. We must prioritize. We cant spend millions on a state house. No garbage bin bobol
; we cant spend $ 270,000 on a party to rename an airport. All passport money to the treasury.
These are some of the areas we need to give SERIOUS consideration: ban on styrofoam like our CARICOM sister GUYANA has just done, reduce on import duties for biodegradable utensils, (it is said that a take away styrofoam tray is $0.50 compared to biodegradable one of $2.00). Before we had paper cups but everything is plastic, plastic cup for single use!!! in addition, develop a tax for use of plastic bags especially among grocers (why folks dont shop with their carrier bags, gone are days of weaved baskets from our Kalinago warriors, development and implement an island-wide RURAL composting scheme (not talking backyard composting but rural cottage industries), and with the help of the Chinese (yes the Chinese) build a mega biogas plant to curb on URBAN and peri Urban biodegradable material going to the landfield. And after we do all that RAISE the fine!! We need to start to take responsibility for our heinous actions of littering all over the place.
Here is my understanding of what Mr. Tonge is saying:
If I am the agent for Hyundai cars and my asking price is $100 and no one buys my cars, the smart thing to do is to sell it for $500 instead, so people could buy them. That’s my understanding and remember I am the perfect Idiot, and in the world of idiots, that’s what make sense, right NOT the perfect idiot, Mr. Tonge?
T he fine should be in creased to $50000 for this why other do
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Ng-Lap-seng-wins-argument-on-50-million-bail
Mr. Tonge, can you open this link and explain to us why the name of the Dominica’s prime Minister is the only current PM still in question?
I know you are busy so to save some time just read the last three paragraphs in this article
GOOSE, what does it say nothing ,you GAL head
You are asking the wrong person mister
The problem is no putting out garbage in time – it is a matter of the truck break down or not enough truck so the garbage stays there and vagabonds and dogs spread them. If we have a good garbage disposal system then the city will be be so dirty.
Those tourist in the pic say “Green and clean my “donkey”
lower jail time was on the agenda some week back.in fact the the prison called it DISCOUNT on the time spent in side
in a real country all this nonsense would not take place.by the way, the term real country was made popular by our priminister.
If the fine is EC$5,000 and Dominicans are not respecting the LAW of proper garbage disposal, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL HONOUR IT IF IT IS SET AT SAY EC$500??????
Mr. Tonge, please, go back to the drawing board.
he actually makes sense.
That 5,000 cannot be readily paid. but a 100 can.
he makes sense… you’re married to an officer so…that says alot
Not one in low office as you would presume. Thus my ability to spend time in this forum reading all the complaints.
You ass-u-med (assumed) my husband is in a low office. That’s the problem with you Dominicans, you ass-u-me way too much without the facts. My husband is an appointed officer by you all. Stomach that.
You are an idiot. A smaller fine makes dumping easier. We want NO DUMPING!
It is so amusing that when you walk past the intersection of Old Street and Great Marlborough Street there is a sign affixed to the telephone pole that says “Do not dump garbage here. By order of the Town Clerk”. I have personally seen some some of the old as well as some of the Johnny come lately merchants placing their garbage right underneath the sign. And there is a hotel,a travel agency and a bank right across the street. Yet we constantly speak of the “next level”. But they forgot to tell us whether the next level is going up or down . Just a thought.
I am lost! Can someone translate into English what the Minister is reported to have said?
Lets put our heads in the sand not address the health problems of dumping garbage on the minister.
Hmmmmm, Persons caught or seen throwing KFC boxes should be charged, but again there is no laws, so persons do what they like. The P.M. and his crew is just having a wonderful time in D.A. and that’s all.
Bon Dieu! Mr. Tonge, please come again. You are just giving persons the leeway to go ahead and dump rubbish indiscriminately. Persons put out their garbage on the specified day/days in their communities, and the truck don’t collect the garbage on that day in question, so what you want persons to do.
I find government and solid waste management should collaborate to bring a solution to this garbage disposal system on our beautiful/nature island. Garbage trucks should be placed in each district. The truck which services Portsmouth should not be sent to Marigot, LaPlaine to collect Garbage. Your Government should and can help this situation. The Monies given to the extra Ministers in Government should have been to purchase Garbage Trucks for Dominica.
By the way why did Skerrit replaced you as Tourism Minister? Ian Douglas is now Minister for Employment etc.,so I hope you Mr. Tonge will develop PORTSMOUTH which has all the potentials for development.
Do u call that thing that picks up gaRBAGE a garbage truck? That thing is a health hazard.Dominica needs a real garbage truck and train the workers how to handle the trash
I must say that collection service has deteriorated. I have a bin, purchased from Dominica Solid Waste but the crew treat it with disrespect, almost contempt. I put all mys waste , tied in plastic bags, inside the bin and keep the lid closed but the Solid Waste people throw the poor bin all over the place, do not close back the lid and hardly put it back in the spot where they found it. As if they are doing us a favour and we must be grateful they are coming at all. Don’t bother to come and wish me Merry Christmas this time. You are too rude.
Robert, You recently called for a clean city in Roseau and now you have thrown it away. You are the tourism minister so you should championing for a $10,000 fine. Come on man. Is this a brain fart? or you are going loco? Which one.. Put on you thinking cap and talk like a minister you cares about the tourist industry. Have you forgotten the most recent report? Dominica ranked 31 of 35.
How about installing more bins around Roseau. One for garbage and the other to recycle glass bottles and tin cans. How about television and radio ads discouraging littering and talking about the effects it has on our environment and the tourism industry. HOW ABOUT INCREASING THE FINES – and having officers about town enforce the no littering and no dumping laws. How about doing those things instead?
This guy is just filled with contradictions…. what a mess Dominica!!!!!!!!!!
Are you serious Mr. Tonge. You speaking bull now. Lower te fine and what happens? The wardens themselves dump the garbage too so they will never report their friends and others. Putting the garbage out at the designated time also does not make a difference because it is never picked up on time. There are also not enough bins in Roseau to dump garbage and the times that the dump trucks pass around Roseau to pick up the garbage is also ridiculous. At 3:30 and 4 is not the time to be picking up garbage among persons and children leaving work and school stinking up the place. And worse they crush the garbage in the middle of the street leaving all the stinking water and wherever is in there on the road. Think again so called Tourism Minister of the tourists walking around town and a garbage truck passing next to them.
All of a sudden Mr. Tonge vocal!!! I wonder why… must be the report on Dominica that have him talking out of his ……. anyways guys have a wonderful friday!!
Robbie …. really? We pay you to speak that “GARBAGE”?
Here’s my take. It’s high time to STOP talking and take ACTION. What we NEED to do is PROSECUTE a few offenders and send home the message LOUD and CLEAR.
If we do not or cannot IMPLEMENT the law then what’s the point in having it?
Don’t Dominicans realize that they are hurting themselves with their nasty behavior dumping cabbage all over.what is wrong with us. Don’t no government officials than ourselves. You people needs to stop man.
Yes, especially CABBAGE. What a difference one letter can make, hahaha.
Dominicans we are well aware that Tourism is everyone’s business. Dominica is an ideal tourist destination given it’s unique topography and bounty of natural attractions. However, when the populace feel that it should be the sole responsibility of the Government to develop and enhance our tourism product we are left with a vacuum. Our Citizens are too rude to our tourists, they litter the streets and crowd the sidewalks while ships are in Port. Look at how they indiscriminately dump garbage! They abandon their mentally challenged and crack-addicted family members in the streets of Roseau and ask the Government to do something about it. They argue with each other in public and crowd Kentucky Fried Chicken making it hard for our Tourists to get a taste of home. Dominicans drive recklessly and have no road courtesy, even cursing the Tourists who cross their paths when they are at an intersection. Dominicans let’s improve our behaviours please and stop blaming the Government.
We have opposition political leaders who have no respect for the law. Roseau is their stronghold. So what do you expect. They think they are embarrassing the government, but they are sending Dominicans to the grave.
D N O once posted some heavy littering in Marigot ……need I say more.
Emile you are pathetic. Don’t try and tell me that people did not litter in Roseau under Julius Timothy. And I see team Dominica organising clean up teams of volunteers. Were you part of that or you don’t want to get your zapatos to get dirty comrade.
Garbage is being dumped all over the country you would think the whole country itself is the landfill. It disgusts me. Some villages are really trying but on a whole there is garbage all over. People need to learn how to compost and recycle. I also believe that the govt needs to invest in more garbage trucks and have specific garbage collection day for each village. Have persons put their garbage in solid bags and put them out at 5pm the earliest the day before collection day.
And Dominicans lets take pride in our country. stop the dumping all over.
What Rubbish is this?; Man pure Garbage! I have never heard such nonesense in my life! Are these folks the brightest minds in Dominica?
You’re totally missing the point. If persons are charged realistic amounts then wardens will feel more at ease in charging the perpetrator.
Remember, after u charge them you still have to live with them.
Sounds like the wardens aren’t doing their job.
If that is o the wardens are not doing their job and should be sacked. A waste of time and money.
This is an example of how things are handled in D/ca. The Laws have no teeth because people know each other so government pay them a salary and the work is not done. First of all they get the job bacause they are the party’s supporters and don’t really care. In our neighboring islands things are different, as a result Dominica is at the bottom as states the Tourism Report. I have onesuggestion for Mr Tonge and that is to put cameras at each street corner to replace the wardens and review them daily,leave the fine as a deterrent and people will think twice.
These days Mr. Tonge, Mr. Blackmoore, Mr. Saint Jean and on a lesser scale Mr. Drigo, seem to be very vocal. It’s like they are almost on a race to see who is more outstanding. I guess they must have realized that based on what they might know about NG Lap Seng , who is now jailed in the US, there is no way Skerrit can lead Dominica again and therefore they trying to make themselves available? Let’s not forget that five others who were all charged, were all in company with Skerrit two weeks before they were jailed, and Mr. Skerrit, who looked like one of the stars, was seen toasting glasses, cutting cake and signing documents at their Macau gathering
Not that it would make any difference, but it seems like they do a pretty good job of biting their tongues when the Dear Leader is around. I know it is independence time but I was also beginning to think that that parrot’s bottom (bonda Jacko) they seem to have eaten is making them sound repetitive and annoying.
But none of these men are capable of doing any better the fruit falls from the same tree .. non better non, the people will decide .
I am a hard labour person but minister Robert Tonge should be sack for talking rubbish, how could he say a fine of 5,000 dollars for illegally dumping of garbage by the wayside is to steep what is he on
when tourist arrive first thing they see is the negative things of any country to take back home, so 5,000 dollars +1 year jail would not be a bad thing and will teach them not too.
I concur.. the fine $ 5,000 should stand until people are serious about garbage littering it should not be removed .. That’s what happen when they put people like minister Robert Tonge in a job he cannot handle . So many things that need to be done to get Dominica moving forward , yes we have to keep the place clean but that’s not all so minister get with it or hang up from the position ..
Dominicans keep the Island clean it’s all of us responsibility .
OMG look at the tourists walking around the garbage this is absolutely horrible instead of the nature isle we are seen as the dumpsite of the caribbean, i never thought we could ever reach this stage of mismanagement. Makes u wonder what is next on the agenda of the skerrit administration what else can they mess up! Is there anything left to kill?
We all need to take responsibility for the garbage all over. I walk in town and i see people eating something in a bag and then they just drop the bag or the bottle on the street. I drive down the coast and see KFC boxes on the road. I have even witnessed people throwing stuff out of their moving cars. It is ridiculous! Last community day of service I helped clean a neighborhood and the amount of garbage we collected off the side of a cliff. Nonsense!!
We as people need to learn to take care of our environment. We need to teach that to our kids. We have no regard. That’s why the place is so filthy. When I drive i just shake my head and all the garbage along the roads. It is up to each one of us to do our part. Simply by not littering and putting garbage in designated areas at designated times. I so agree with the Minister. Garbage don’t have legs. It cannot walk. We need to do better as a people because we are failing our island and the next generation.
This place better than the Ringling circus!!! Now he is making excuses why wardens don’t enforce law. They need to add a pink nose and “colourfool” faces to these guys. The 5k I bet is a deterrent. Why argue to charge $100 so they can dump again to add up charges. Mr. Tounge are you really trying to stop the practice or prolong it? You sound like you want to lower fines to use to generate revenue long term because you admitting here that lowering fines will not detter or stop the practice. How about imposing current fines so others will get the message and not even think of dumping. Your argument makes absolutely no commonsense especially when you have a problem affecting the tourism industry. SMFH.
Boy how much longer before dat backward government is put out of office nuh. Phew!!!!
If Tonge really said this, I think it’s high time for him to go back to his insurance business again. What a lot of utter nonsense! But then again clear thinking is not and has not been a strong point of this regime. Why do we pay these guys all that money?
This pic is disgusting.
My thought exactly.
Why are we talking about garbage , is it cultural, poverty, or sub human slavery mentally . We should first do a study on why prople dump garbage, is it link to something deeper in our soul. The problems sims to be world wide. The poorer the country is the deeper the problem is with people dumping garbage. How much part of the education system talking about garbage is hazardous to our health. Government alone is not the problem , we must examine self worth there is a hugh problem, if you dont have self worth all the fines in the world will not stop people from dumping garbage. Where ever you have poverty you will have garbage. Change the mind you solve the problem its almost impossible to do that. If ever thing in life was so easy we all would be rich and live in clean places
@ Jack……..it is a mind set. It is always someone else problem. This mind set will have to change for us to enjoy any type of sustainable development.
That is some contorted argument, I must say. You think your customers would make fewer claims if you lowered your insurance premiums mr. Tonge? That makes just as much sense as your proposal to lower the fine for dumping.
Claims are made due to accidents not willfully so you are the one with the contorted conception, try something else.
Mr.Tonge,when was the last time someone was fined,everyone knows everyone,Dominica is a corrupt nation,and nothing will never change unless this government goes into exile.
Grell, you make sick you keep on playing that same old record corrupt Dominica corrupt nation with scum bags like you things will never get better ,go to your poppy basket and stay there.
I am glad you realize that it is too much but reduction is not the way. A range should be created starting form a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $5000. If someone is charged it will be up to the court to decide what the best charge is. The person could be a first time offender or the litter may not be of any major significance. Also included could be community service which may go a long way in deterring some individuals rather than paying since they may be able to afford to pay many times over or a mixture of a fine and community service.
This is free advice. I am not in government and will never be but I will give my opinion. Feel free to contact me at anytime.
So if you’re convicted of dumping rubbish, you’re sentenced to community service picking up significantly more rubbish than you dumped? That might be a very effective deterrent.
Rubbish! Utter rubbish. Has anyone ever been convicted and fined for illegally dumping garbage mr. Tonge, despite many signs all over Dominica?. How can lowering a fine be a deterrent? That is simply not logical. I hope that you are not saying that our law enforcers are reluctant to apply the law but would do so if people were liable to pay a smaller penalty?. That is garbage! Insanity!Just make sure that the existing laws are rigorously applied or sack the people who are paid for apprehending and reporting the culprits. Never heard such nonsense in my life. No wonder we are not getting anywhere.
Be careful what you wish for. As much as I hate garbage strewn indiscriminately, I must admit that I appreciate that police are cautious of citing people when they know penalties are disproportionate. It’s not good for a society to have police willing to follow orders to be overly heavy-handed, and for many people a fine of $5000 would leave their family hungry or homeless.
mr. Foester, in that case why have fines in Dominica at all? So many people. Maybe you are suggesting that people should pay fines only according to their income? In that case the poorest would get away with most crime. There is no excuse because when you break the law you know the risk and the law says that, ignorance of the law is no defense.
Steve…..It is not the fine that is the problem. It is the people who litter. If they cared for their family they would not litter their homes. Nobody care because we have a scapegoat to blame.
If excessive punishment isn’t a problem, then why not execute everyone for every infraction, however minor? No more crime, right? Except that this approach would be completely unjust and uncivilised — just like a $5000 fine for littering.
Agreed. We must be realistic. Unjust laws / fines create many unintended consequences. we have to get the balance right. This is not to let people who litter off the hook. It is simply to get a realistic and just solution.
“If you can’t do the time; don’t commit the crime.”
Very simple philosophy!