Forde: Dumping negatively impacting water supply

Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde has linked illegal dumping to worsening water quality and scarcity in Barbados, backing a proposed $20 000 fine under the new Storm water Management Act as a necessary deterrent to protect what he said were the island’s fragile water systems.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Forde said improper waste disposal practices—particularly in gullies and other natural drainage areas—have significantly disrupted the natural flow of water, polluted aquifers, and worsened the impacts of flooding caused by heavy rains.

“We have extreme cases of flooding, and that is why we have brought a Bill to ensure we have a sustainable watershed plan for our stormwater management,” he said. 

“Section 20 of the Bill speaks directly to illegal dumping, a scourge that has destroyed our ecosystems and now interferes with the course and quality of our water.”

The Act, passed in Parliament on Tuesday, makes it an offence to dump waste that obstructs natural watercourses or contributes to pollution. 

On summary conviction, offenders could face fines up to $20 000 — a penalty the environment minister described as “a move in the right direction.”

“This is a step forward. Persons who dump illegally in our gutters and ecosystems are not only disrupting water flow—they are also introducing harmful chemicals. That is the devil we have to deal with every day in my ministry,” he said. 

He noted that the new fine complements existing penalties under the Health Services Act, which can include both financial punishment and imprisonment for repeat offenders.

Forde also pointed to the ongoing Gullies Are Life initiative—a $5 million anti-dumping project launched by his ministry in January—as an example of why legislative support is essential. 

He told the House of Representatives that the initiative, which includes surveillance cameras, public education, and over 100 field workers, has already removed “tons and tons” of bulk and household waste from the island’s gullies.

“The legislation will now give us what is needed to protect that work,” Forde said.

“We are suffering from water scarcity. We must embrace laws like this and act responsibly as a nation.” 

(SM)