The Editor, Sir:

There is a serious environmental issue that the country faces in particular urban communities where the management of waste disposal and collection imposes a challenge on our society.

The new government has a responsibility to educate, organise, and institute measures to facilitate an efficient waste disposal and collection system, after years of neglect. Community education in this respect is critical. Inner-city communities pose the greatest challenge as a number of behavioural and systemic factors militate against implementing structured systems in particular communities. Community toilet facilities must be constructed to prevent gullies and drains being misused or filled with plastic bags of excreta, bottles, cans and clothing. Individuals living close to drains and gullies often use these to dispose of old appliances.

Deal with breeding grounds

The intermittent advisories by the Ministry of Health infer that the breeding grounds of the mosquitoes are not being dealt with. Fogging will not address the problem on a permanent basis until the old tyres and drums that litter gullies and drains are properly disposed of.

Compounding the issue as it relates to mosquito breeding, a number of drains in the Corporate Area are badly in need of repairs.

I am, etc.,

CLAUDE RIDDELL

claude24_7@hotmail.com