Duo clean up their dumping act, authorities satisfied

It took them five days but two men caught on camera illegally dumping coconut shells at a popular beach have paid their dues with an extensive beach clean-up, according to officials from the Environmental Protection Department.

Anthony Brathwaite, 29, and 23-year-old Ross Corbin – who days ago issued a public apology for their conduct have completed their voluntary community service, which mandated that they clean up a two-kilometre stretch of beach from Needham’s Point, St. Michael to the Pierhead.

Their bid to avoid prosecution on criminal charges that could have netted them a $5,000 fine led to a public outcry but the environmental protection officer defended the first-of-its-kind deal while promising it is likely the last.

Brathwaite and Corbin thanked National Conservation Commission ranger Antonette Jones who supervised them over the last two days, along with Sanitation Service Authority spokesman Alf Padmore and Senior Environmental Health Officer Trevor Taylor.

Describing the experience as “the first of its kind”, Taylor conveyed the satisfaction of the Chief Environmental Officer Ronald Chapman and his deputy. But as he praised the two young men for completing their service, Taylor issued a warning that authorities may not treat illegal dumpers so kindly in the future.

Chapman declared: “They have restored the beach to its former glory. It can now be used as a picnic area and I am imploring all Barbadians to use it. I want Barbadians to know that illegal dumping is a definite no-no from the standpoint of the Ministry of Health under the Health Services Collection and Disposal of Refuse Regulations, and you may be prosecuted and fined a maximum of $5,000 if found guilty.

“We have used the opportunity to have the area cleaned as quickly as possible rather than going through the judicial process and we have been successful.”

He explained that the two young men filled four skips with refuse and all of the garbage had not yet been removed.

Chapman added: “The main objective is to ensure we don’t have any proliferation of vectors including rats and mosquitoes. They have not only cleaned the area, but four skips full of refuse have been removed from the area, and there are more to come.

“So they have done a great job, we hope they have learned their lessons and our job is to change the knowledge, attitude and practices of Barbadians and I assume these two have attained some knowledge, changed their attitudes and their practices.”

When asked to send a message to Barbadians based on what he learned from the experience, Ross quipped: “Love Bim and find a bin.”

Chuckling, Taylor added: “I agree with him 100 per cent, and not only on the beach. The entire island including the country areas, the gully areas and the quarries [should be kept clean]. Find the SSA. It’s just there in St. Thomas, and they will take your garbage.”
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb