Health & Social Development Minister Carvin Malone said a comprehensive waste management strategy is being developed and will be backed with legislation to deter perpetrators from the indiscriminate waste-disposal in the British Virgin Islands.
Malone gave that indication while responding to questions in a recent sitting of the House of Assembly. He said the types of deterrence being considered includes having select dump sites on video surveillance.
“The concept of placing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras - it could be done and probably should be done. But [that is only] unless the legislation comes in so that when you do picture them you have strong economic deterrence,” Malone told the House of Assembly.
He added: “The issue with bulk waste and waste, in general, has been heightened even more since the storms of 2017. The Ministry of Health & Social Development is in the process of developing a comprehensive waste management strategy and will provide the framework for addressing waste and other existing challenges relating to solid waste, storage, and collection and disposal operation throughout the territory.”
He said public consultations on the draft waste management strategy will be held in November of this year.
“We would look at legislation in this to make sure that we offer some stiff deterrent for those who are insisting that they would violate the common practices,” Malone added.
Issue is territory-wide
The minister said the problem is one that affects “too many locations”.
He said while there is a programme in place that removes bulk waste regularly, the cleared areas are still known to overflow with more bulk waste shortly after.