The government will introduce prison time and community service for repeat litter offenders as part of plans to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and curb widespread violations.
Speaking on his weekly podcast “Issues in the news”, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, said authorities will review and amend the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act to introduce new littering offences, increase penalties and improve enforcement.
“We have a fairly good framework in place, which, of course, I will review with the intent of expanding its scope, increasing its penalties, and making its enforcement easier.”
Nandlall said the move will also involve activating long-standing but underutilised regulations enacted in 2013 under the Environmental Protection Act, which provide an extensive legal framework to address littering and related offences.
The regulations establish offences for littering in public places, from motor vehicles, and on both public and private premises, while empowering local authorities to appoint wardens with enforcement powers.
These powers include removing derelict vehicles, initiating legal proceedings, and enforcing environmental standards across communities.
Under the existing framework, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and other local authorities are responsible for waste management and enforcement, with wardens authorised to investigate offences, enter premises and initiate prosecutions.
The regulations also allow for collaboration with the Guyana Police Force to support enforcement efforts.
The measures form part of a broader government push to tackle littering, noise nuisance and environmental degradation, as authorities step up efforts to promote cleaner communities and improve compliance nationwide.
