By Binta Jaiteh
The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang has informed the lawmakers that the enforcement of anti-littering law is still a challenge in the country due to lack of comprehensive waste collection and management strategy.The minister made this statement during questions and answers session of the assembly before it got adjourned
The lawmaker for Basse Constituency, Saikou Bah had asked the minister on the plans of her ministry to strengthen Anti-Littering laws and its enforcement because the country has observed large scale illegal dumping and proliferation of littering.
Minister Manjang said her ministry through the National Environment Agency who has the responsibility to regulate matters relating to waste collection, disposal and management.
She notes that the councils are responsible mainly for the collection and disposal of waste. Lack of continuous strong enforcement, and also cases took years to be completed and for the implementation of fines.
“Our ministry is working on a timely enforcement of the legal consequences which are required to motivate attitudinal change,” she remarked.
According to her, NEA has almost completed the revision and replacement process and the National Environment Management Act respectively, these are expected to address the above challenges mentioned.
Manjang disclosed that the president has strongly directed for her ministry to work on instituting a sustainable national waste management system. Currently, she continues, the ministry has started engaging with a Senegalese waste management institution set up by their government for a similar purpose to design and implement a solution before the end of 2024.
“We are reviewing the laws and the National Management Act will consider a more robust way of handling and prosecuting such matters,” she stated.
