BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
NEW penalties for the breach of the Honiara City Council Act which range from $1000 for individuals and up to $10,000 for businesses depending on the severity of the offence will take effect on the 1st of July, a delay from May 1st orated earlier.
The aim to enforce and penalize littering offenders with hefty spot fines is to keep Honiara City clean, which means that if anyone is found guilty of breaching the leading up to the 2023 Pacific Games in November will be charged accordingly.
In an interview with SUNDAY ISLES, Honiara City Council’s (HCC) Clerk, Justus Denni said that the litter ordinances are already in place to enforce these new penalties, however, it is the Honiara City Act that needs to be amended to allow the on-the-spot fines.
“The litter ordinance is already in place, but what is missing is the new penalties to impose the on- the spot fines, this is why there is a need to amend the Act to legalize it.
“The amendment has already been completed but needs to go through cabinet before Parliament for the approval.
“However, the timeline for the implementation of the new ordinances is 1st of July,” the HCC Clerk clarified.
The Honiara City Council (Litter) Bill 2009 (‘the Litter Ordinance’) was previously passed on the 24th of November 2009, assented to the Minister for Home Affairs on the same date, and gazetted on the 12th of March 2010 under Legal Notice No. 16.
Justus said that the days from 1st May to 30th June are defined as the ‘Grace Period’.
“The HCC will step up enforcement as this period from 1st May to 30th June, if we catch anyone we will not impose a fine but we will warn any individual.
“However, if any person is found guilty of committing the offense of littering, spitting of betel nut on the street, throwing on rubbish from vehicles as of 1st July 2023, the person will be charged with the on-the-spot fines.
“And may I repeat that from 1st July and afterward, if we found anyone to commit the offenses (littering, spitting of betel nut) then we would execute on- the spot fines on him or her,’’ said Denni.
In the meantime, the HCC is urging the public to dispose of their wastes at their rightful place.
“As of now, the HCC will continue with their awareness on the streets to make sure the general public of Honiara is aware of the penalties under the ‘Litter Ordinance’ and ‘Dogs Ordinances’.
“So take note that from 1st May to 30th June is the grace period, while as of 1st July 2023, we will not tolerate anyone found of committing the offenses,’’ the City Clerk said.
