Beach needs to be cleaned up
I have a question about all the trash on the beach in front of Royal Palms. Every single morning their beach is completely littered with plastic cups, straws, broken bottles and general trash. Are there any regulations regarding littering for these venues? Imagine what tourists must think walking along the beach. It’s literally a dump. All those plastic straws and cups are being washed into the ocean. It’s unacceptable and the owners should be ashamed. Who can we contact to get this under control?
Auntie’s answer: While I have actually experienced beaches in other countries that could legitimately be called “dumps”, I take your point about keeping our beaches clean. I think most people here take pride in our crystal-clear water and (mostly) pristine beaches, and I also have no patience for anyone who is selfish enough to toss their tin or wrapper onto our white sand rather than carry the rubbish home or walk a few metres to the nearest bin.
To answer your questions, there are regulations prohibiting littering and there is a department you can contact to complain.
First, to the law. Under The Litter Law (1997 Revision) Section 3 (1) says, “Whoever throws down, drops or otherwise deposits and leaves any litter in, into or from a public place in such circumstances as to cause, contribute to or tend to lead to its defacement by such litter is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $500 or to imprisonment for six months.”
There is one caveat, though. The littering party can offer a defence of this action in two ways: if it was authorised under law or he or she had the consent of the owner or whoever was in control of the public place. I find both defences odd myself, but there they are in the law.
Section 4 refers to littering on private property without the consent of the owner or occupier, with the same penalties on conviction of $500 or six months in prison.
As to complaints, you can direct those to the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) by calling (743-5982), emailing or downloading the complaint form from the DEH website.
A DEH official explained, “All complaints received are logged and investigated by DEH staff. Where complaints are substantiated, the DEH take action with the management to resolve the matter.”
The official also pointed out that sometimes properties hire crews to clean up the beaches at certain times during the day, and “Littering of the beaches could be caused by people improperly disposing of their waste as well as litter being ‘brought in or transported’ from another area.”
While both scenarios may be true, it does seem that the litter you are describing is distinctly bar related. The only way to know for sure who the culprits are would be 24/7 monitoring, unless anyone has other suggestions. If someone is caught in the act, I am always up for some public shaming as well.
Category: Ask Auntie, Environmental Questions
Does the same Section 3 (1) apply to political candidates who leave (or have someone leave) their flyers under my windscreen wipers?
There is a “live” webcam- looks clean today.
The beach looks pristine on https://royalpalmscayman.com/
Bunk…I was driving behind a white truck that was throwing fast food bags and drink containers out their windows along the Lindford Pearson Highway. When we came up to the roundabout I decided I would pull up alongside them, roll down my window and give them a piece of my mind. Unfortunately, when I got along side the littering vehicle I found myself utterly speechless as the truck was a D.E.H vehicle with 3 workers in uniform inside. Disgusting.
report them to their supervisor.
It probably was the supervisors on their lunch break
sounds just like them!!! Committees and individuals have been trying to get the populace here to take pride and stop littering for decades. The only answer is enforcing the fine that is Law dictates. Hurtful part is that the Police are the worst offenders.