BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE General Manager of Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC), Alphonso Bridgewater, is appealing to the general public to act responsibly and not discard their garbage in the drains of Basseterre during the Carnival season.
In an interview with SKNVibes, Bridgwater said: “There is habit very bad among our residents; they think the drains are the place to throw their garbage but we want to discourage them from doing that.
“You wouldn't have to walk too far to find a bin during Carnival. Better yet, the people who you are buying stuff from, we are encouraging those vendors to have a bag so people can use it to throw their stuff in.”
Bridgwater also highlighted the plans of the SWMC for the festive season.
“The plans that Solid Waste have for this festive season has already begun and you realise there has not been much complaints because we are getting rid of the garbage.
“We basically have the highly traffic areas covered. During the highly traffic times we will be placing plastic bins on the road so that they will be able to throw things in them.”
He also spoke of the arrangement his organisation has with the Carnival Committee and other entities.
“Throughout the whole of Basseterre we have arrangement with the Carnival Committee and PartyCcentral that none of them will pay the full cost. So this is like our contribution. It could cost us up to $28 000. None of them pays the full cost but Solid Waste meets the cost.”
Bridgewater also explained that there would be no collection during two days of the season and the Landfill will also be closed.
“There are only three days throughout the year when the Landfill is closed, or we don't collect garbage. Those days are Christmas Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
“In instances where that happens, those areas where normally get collection would not get collection. The same thing holds for the Landfill...it will be closed to the public.
“The businesses in town, who operate on these days can make arrangements with the Solid Waste in advance and at a cost to get their waste disposed.”
He also reiterated his plea and stated that litter wardens would be on patrol during the season.
“When you are buying stuff and so, the drain is not the place to throw the waste. The drain is for the run off of water.
“One of the things we will be looking for this Carnival season will be the enforcement of the litter laws. So you will feel the litter wardens’ presence more to basically impress on people to do the right thing. And the right thing to do is not to throw stuff in the drain.”
He also made a plea to vendors to clean their immediate surroundings on a daily basis and also to the general public to restrain from urinating in public.
