Ocho Rios Bypass overrun with garbage

THE EDITOR, Sir:

For the past couple of weeks, I have started taking my morning walk along a section of the Ocho Rios Bypass, and I am quite amazed at the amount of garbage (plastic and glass bottles, Styrofoam lunch boxes, juice boxes, paper bags, tree branches, overturned garbage cans, the contents of which are spilled all over the sidewalk) which has been allowed to collect along the kerb.

Visitors to Ocho Rios who stay in nearby hotels also do their morning exercise walk or jog along this stretch of road, and I am quite embarrassed at what they must think of us Jamaicans as they view this disgusting spectacle.

I have, on more than one occasion, seen juice boxes and beer bottles being thrown from passing vehicles, and must assume that this practice is a major source of the garbage.

In an effort to lessen the habit, I am appealing to one of our major private-sector organisations to take on as a project the placing of some sort of garbage receptacle - 'wire basket or whatever' - at the exit doors of all buses with the words 'Keep Jamaica Tidy' or 'Don't Litter' painted on them.

In the meantime, I ask the relevant authority, the parish council, to clean up the mess as soon as possible, and ensure that this is done on a regular basis.

The other disgusting practice which impacts negatively on our town is the indiscriminate placing on utility poles, walls, clock towers or an any flat surface available. This practice is surely in contravention of the Anti-Litter Act, and the offenders, who are not primarily those who place the stickers but businesses, clubs, etc., which are the source of these, should be prosecuted.

There is far too much untidiness and ramshackle in our town, and every effort should be made by all sectors of our country to eliminate or lessen this unacceptable situation.