Illegal Garbage Dumpsites, A Perennial Issue in Ladyville
Belize has made significant investments in its solid waste management efforts over the years. But in spite of these developments some communities have been unable to get a handle on illegal dumping. It has been a perennial issue in Ladyville and tonight Bernard Bennett, the village chairman, is calling on residents to cease the practice. He says it’s costing the Ladyville Village Council thousands of dollars to clean up illegal dumpsites when there is a waste management system in place. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Several streets in Ladyville are being overtaken by illegal garbage dumpsites. Heaps of garbage have been dumped along the Phillip Goldson Highway in Ladyville, through main arteries that lead into the village and even near the homes of some residents. Back in 2017, News Five produced a story on the issue. In that piece, then Area Representative, Beverly Williams, referred to the issue as an unceasing problem. Since them there has been a change in administrative leadership of the constituency, but seven years later, the issue persists. Today, Bernard Bennett, chairman of the village, says he is at his wits end in trying to remedy the matter.
Bernard Bennett
Bernard Bennett, Chairman, Ladyville
“If you travel from Haulover Bridge to the main entrance to the international airport you will see garbage. I work with the ministry infrastructure, sometimes the village council do some self-cleaning, but you clean up today; tomorrow you’ll find an extra amount of garbage on the road side. And like, like I said, the hotspots are similar. I mean, we have hotspots that people have, like for instance in Milpa Area. There is a big hotspot right in front of the larger community where people live, and I always ask them, you know, why you allow people just come and dump right in front of the community. And, we have another area in the Japan Road; we call it the Compassion Lane. Opposite Compassion people simply go and dump the garbage at the road side.”
We visited the Milpa Area in the community to hear the views of residents on illegal dumping along their streets. We were able to speak with a few villagers who live near this illegal dump site. They requested to be interviewed off camera.
Voice of Concerned Resident of Ladyville #1
“Eeena a way I look bad fih the people deh and fih everybody weh live eena the community. You have a lee lady weh the do a fast food thing and it is an issue. Ih look bad because the clients deh bout the watch all that?”
Paul Lopez
“Who does it?”
Voice of Concerned Resident of Ladyville #1
“People right bout and bout, deh nuh want pay off the lee truck. Its better they do the right thing you know.”
Voice of Concerned Resident of Ladyville #2
“Well I feel concerned because a lot of time you have to pass the rubbish and its smells bad and its now something healthy you know. People suppose to be more responsible because that is where everybody passes the environment looks dirty, ih nuh look good.”
Paul Lopez
“You know who do it?”
Voice of Concerned Resident of Ladyville #2
“More than likely, I don’t see who do it. The thing is whosever do it, it is nastiness, because I mean they have the truck, they could pay.”
According to Bennett, private sanitation companies are contracted to collect garbage from households across the entire village on a bi-weekly basis, at a cost of fifteen dollars per month. But, as one community member pointed out, some people simply cannot afford to pay the fee. Therein lays one of the root issues.
Voice of Gregory, Concerned Resident of Ladyville
“Sometimes we got to burn stuff, when you think about it we have to utilize we own source for we own way of doing our own stuff, we burn them but that is not good.”
Paul Lopez
“So, you don’t have garbage trucks that come through here?”
Voice of Gregory
“Yeah, but you got to pay these guys.”
Paul Lopez
“So why don’t you just pay the garbage truck, is it too expensive?”
Voice of Gregory
“Well I am not too sure about the price, I think it cost.”
Paul Lopez
“Fifteen dollars.”
Gregory
“Well yes we could do that, but not everybody can afford it, not everybody can afford it.”
Based on the information we gathered from these residents, most people view these illegal dump sites as an eyesore and an environmental hazard. The alternative suggested for those unable to pay the monthly fee was to burn their personal waste. However, that method too poses it own environmental challenges.
Voice of Concerned Resident of Ladyville #2
“And if deh can’t pay at least do something, like burn your garbage. I don’t think you consume that much where you will pollute the air neither, cause I nuh agree pan that neither, but…”
Voice of Gregory
“If I have an ideal pack, I stuff it in my pocket until I reach home. I stuff it in my pocket until I get home and I have a bag and then I would just have a little spot where I would burn my stuff, but we should be better than that, we should do better than that.”
It is safe to say that among residents there is a consciousness as to the environmental and aesthetic impacts of this illegal practice. Yet, there has been little to no change over the past decade.
Bernard Bennett
“Paul I have had enough. You know, I am just appealing to the community to please cease and desist. Mr. Miller, Mr. Ewing and Mr. Griffith, I mean, their phone numbers are all over the internet. You could always call these people and get their service to take your garbage away, man.”
Reporting For News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
