The Ministry of Health is serious about leaving no stones unturned in its ongoing national response to the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
After weeks of posting removal notices and undertaking several public education and awareness initiatives, health officials on Friday morning began removing derelict vehicles in and around the St George’s area.
Authorities are utilizing the Waste Management Act, the Abatement of Litter Act and the Road Traffic Act to underpin the process, which experts say is long overdue but necessary and timely in the wake of the Zika virus.
This latest move is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to reduce the mosquito index, and vector breeding sites, which threaten the health, safety and wellbeing of the public.
According to the Waste Management Act# 16 of 2001: A “derelict vehicle” is define as (a) any abandoned or discarded motor vehicle, (b) any motor vehicle left in a public place which is in such a dilapidated condition that it cannot be safely used for the purpose of transportation, and (c) any part of a motor vehicle.
Moreover the Abatement of Litter Act #24 of 2015, describes “Litter as,” any solid or liquid material or product or combination of solid or liquid materials or products including any bottles, tins, logs, sawdust, derelict vehicles, cartons, packages, packing materials, paper, glass, food, animal remains, garbage, debris, sand gravel, aggregate, dirt, waste (including any human and animal waste) or any other refuse or rubbish or waste material, any other material or product that is designated as litter by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette”.
GIS
