SUVA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Littering and the careless disposal of rubbish contributed immensely to flooding and health hazards, said a Fijian government minister.
According to a statement from the Department of Information on Thursday, Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy reiterated this week that littering was a major contributor to flooding, especially when rubbish is dumped into waterways, mangroves and drains which blocked the flow of water during heavy downpour.
Speaking at handing over a fibre glass boat and outboard engine to Nakubati youth club in Rakiraki, Ra, one of the 14 provinces on the western side of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, Reddy said villagers should dispose rubbish safely to ensure that their environment remained free from diseases.
"The rubbish not only blocks the waterways, it is an eyesore and will also threaten your health and the health of your children. You need to ensure that you protect your environment."
"I want to urge all communities, villages and settlements to assist us in dealing with this major issue which affects our waterways," Reddy said.
He said the Waterways and Environment Ministry would soon be recruiting part-time Litter Prevention Officers who would be issuing infringement notices to people caught littering as a deterrent of public to refrain from this unhealthy behavior.
According to the Fijian government, poorly managed wastes can have negative effects on tourism, by detracting from the "Pacific Paradise" the image that Fiji promotes, and by association with health warnings about infectious and vector-borne diseases.
There is the potential for contamination of food supplies, which can have impacts on local markets or revenue from export crops and there are numerous health and environmental hazards that arise when wastes are poorly managed and disposed.
Conversely, the benefits from good waste management can include reduced raw material costs, enhancement of the tourism experience, reduced health care costs. Effective measures now will also avoid the need for expensive clean-up operations in the future.
