As a visitor to Anguilla and an environmentalist, I was pleased to see the recent effort spearheaded by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (and others I am sure) to clean up various garbage-strewn areas of the island, and the involvement of young people in this exercise.

For an up-market tourism destination like Anguilla, no one can afford to have its beauty and charm overshadowed by the ugliness and unhealthiness of garbage. Collection bins left overflowing at street locations and in the heart of villages is bad enough but garbage, just thrown around in public places, is nothing short of a disgrace.

In recent times, during walkabouts in various locations on the island, I have come across a number of unofficial dumps where persons unknown prefer to get rid of their solid waste items rather than going all the way to the official Corito dump site. I think this is matter for the relevant authorities to look into.

Another matter I wish to refer to is the throwing of bottles and other refuse from vehicles. I was driving one day behind a truck when I happened to see a bottle hurling through the air and landing in the shrub several feet ahead of my vehicle. While the danger was obvious, the littering of the roadside was another matter.

In doing some investigations, I learnt that there is a Litter Ordinance on the law books. Where are the Litter Wardens to maintain a garbage-free Anguilla with the assistance of the Hotel and Tourism Association and others?

Johnny W. Zerrella

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News