KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby is calling for harsher fines to be imposed on individuals who litter.

Speaking during a clean-up exercise in sections of downtown Kingston on Sunday, Mayor Swaby said Jamaicans must take the issue of public hygiene more seriously.

“Clearly there is a need for a stiffer fine for persons caught doing this (littering), maybe we have to lock up some of these persons, it can’t continue like this,” he lamented. “I know that Minister [Desmond] McKenzie is reviewing the fines and clearly we have to deal with that. Persons should be monitoring their own areas. Make sure you protect your space, it’s your communities. Don’t allow persons who live in other places to come and dump garbage here and you the residents, do not dump your garbage.”

Swaby went on to state that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation realises that the issue of proper waste management goes beyond garbage collection and also involves public education. He stressed that as a result, he and his team will be dedicating resources to community sensitisation programmes.

“We’re going to erect ‘no dumping’ signs across the Corporate Area but we will also be speaking with community members on how to properly dispose of their waste,” he said. “We’ve also been having discussions with the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) about more timely garbage pick ups.”

Also present at the clean-up exercise was Jermaine Jones, regional operations manager for MPM Waste Management Limited.

Concurring with Mayor Swaby, Jones said he too believes harsher penalties for littering is necessary in stemming the waste management issue the island is experiencing.

“If you have an issue with bulky waste call us or reach out to your mayor or Mr [Audley] Gordon and we can assist. One of the things that we have embarked on especially in the downtown areas, certain hotspots… we have begun ticketing persons,” he said. “It’s no longer a free for all, persons will be there to catch you and to prosecute you. Persons can be fined up to a maximum of $10,000. It’s not a strong figure just yet but legislation is coming to make the fines stiffer for persons who decide to indiscriminately dump.”