ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie says he will be making a submission to Cabinet to increase the penalties for the improper disposal of garbage.

He said the relevant legislation to be impacted include the National Solid Waste Management Act.

“We are looking now to take to Cabinet new proposals for increase in the litter fines. We are hoping that will help, but again there has to be some level of civic responsibility that the wider Jamaica is prepared to bring to the table if we are to minimize the effects of flooding across the country,” Minister McKenzie said.

He was speaking during an interview with JIS News during the first day of a five day clean-up programme in Hanover on Saturday September 10.

Meanwhile, Minister McKenzie said the flooding along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston on Friday September 9, was “frightening” and that it resulted from persons disposing of their solid waste in an improper manner.

He stated that despite a campaign to get citizens to use the proper channels to dispose of their solid waste, the practice of illegal dumping continues unabated in some areas.

 “What we saw on Marcus Garvey Drive is…a stark reminder that if we continue to practice the kind of things we have been doing, there is a cost to pay,” the Local Government Minister said.

McKenzie said there are lessons to be learnt from what happened along the corporate area thoroughfare.

“I can only appeal to the wider Jamaica to use the lessons of Marcus Garvey Drive to improve on how we dispose of our waste,” he said.