Tuesday, 18th September, 2018
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Fellow citizens and residents of St. Kitts & Nevis, Happy 35th Independence Anniversary!
And as we celebrate the achievements of our nation’s independence, I am reminded of the opening words of our National Anthem, which simply state, “O Land of Beauty”.
Any visitor and certainly any resident of this Country would have no doubt, that our two islands of paradise are indeed blessed with the finest qualities of natural beauty.
However, sometimes, it is our own action, and in other circumstances, our in-action, that bring harm to our picturesque landscapes.
Therefore, as the Minister of Health and the Cabinet member responsible for the Solid Waste Management Corporation, (SWMC), it would be remiss of me if I did not also share our collective concerns about the cleanliness of the city of Basseterre and some of our communities and public spaces around the island of St. Kitts.
Over the years, we have all seen how our towns, villages and our own residential spaces, suffered from indiscriminate dumping and accumulation of garbage.
The Corporation has also witnessed an increase in illegal dumping on empty lands and in ghauts, thereby creating serious challenges in times of flooding, from heavy rains.
As individuals, without thinking and without care, we have been known to deposit litter on our streets resulting in our drains becoming clogged.
If we do love our country and if we have pride in our country, this must stop.
It was once said that, “Cleanliness is a good thing that all societies must embrace.”
That is why the Ministry of Health is supportive of a new initiative that the Solid Waste Management Corporation is launching on Friday, 21st September, 2018.
The core objectives of this initiative are:
- To create a cleaner environment for public health, thereby reducing the levels of certain health challenges that at times confront us
- To build stronger community relations
- To instill greater national and community spirit and pride
- To help prepare for the heightened period of the hurricane season and
- To maintain beautiful spaces in our private homes and public facilities that can be admired by both residents and visitors
All of this effort, ties in beautifully with our independence theme for this year, which is Love, Service, Patriotism and Pride, Independence 35.
This is a National Clean-up Campaign that will run for an eight (8) week period, covering EVERY community throughout the island of St. Kitts.
Every member of each community and every household should get involved; should collect and dispose of all large items which are not usually collected by the trucks on their daily runs.
Remove such items from ghauts and open spaces and deposit them in the bins provided by SWMC.
Bins will be placed every Friday in your community and collected every Monday, or sooner, if required, based on the volume of items.
To put it directly, the corporation will assume full responsibility to provide the bins and to have them removed, while we urge persons to cooperate and clean their premises and community sites; and deposit such waste in the bins provided.
I therefore issue a call for the involvement and participation of community groups, church organizations, businesses and other civic minded persons who care about our country so that the objectives outlined earlier can be achieved. This should be a national effort, led by the people themselves.
When the National Cleanup Program is launched on 21st September, it will be conducted in phases, moving from one community to another, every weekend, commencing in Sandy Point and Central Basseterre.
Thereafter, the SWMC will make regular public announcements, so that the members of each community can be aware, in advance, of when their Community has been scheduled. The full schedule will also be shared widely, via radio, television, online news sites and via social media.
We encourage you to keep abreast of the campaign activities and remove household garbage items including stoves, refrigerators, television sets, old beds debris from tress and other items from your surroundings.
As a further effort to help preserve our prestigious surroundings we will, from October 1st , and lasting for a three month period ending in December 31st, 2018, an amnesty for the disposal of all derelict vehicles and parts at the Land Fill Site.
There will be no charge for the disposal of these items.
Everyone is therefore strongly urged to take full advantage of that amnesty.
I take this opportunity to applaud the Board of Directors and Management of the Solid Waste Management Corporation for their leadership in mounting this important campaign that will derive great benefits to our people and for our nation.
It is therefore with a love for our country, unshakeable pride and devout patriotism that the Ministry and the Solid Waste Management Corporation call on all citizens and residents to get involved, help organize your community, and support this National Cleanup Campaign that commences on Friday 21st September.
Happy Independence to all!
Thank you!
