Dear Editor – Honiara City is one of or the only dirtiest city in the Pacific Islands in terms of littering.
At this point, I don’t throw this to any one in particular.
Everyday, everywhere in the city is rubbish all over the place.
Well done to our City Council for providing rubbish bins,atleast you have done your part, however the problem here is whether people have been throwing their empty cans, plastics etc into the those rubbish bins or not.
The attitude of littering in our Honiara City has becoming very common amongst almost everybody, from our little kids to adults.
I couldn’t believe my eyes a few times either a kid around age of 10 or a teenager at 16 or an adult at an age of 27 or 59 years old, leaning to a rubbish bin, quenching his or her thirst of a pineapple juice can and then instead of putting that empty can into the rubbish bin,he or she drops it onto the ground, right at the bottom of the rubbish bin.
People have been enjoying their junks either in public or private vehicles, the next moment they tossed their plastics or cans through the windows on to the roads.
The Rapid Employment Scheme which has engaged youth in cleaning up of the Honiara city being established few years back/
I think this is a waste of money.
That money should be used for other services for people, had our attitude of throwing rubbish be controlled or stopped.
I believed a handful of families have been training their children at homes, in Churches and as well as in schools to be responsible, when it comes to clean environment.
I used to throw rubbish too, not until I went for studies in Fiji, when I realized that a clean environment, a clean home, a clean city begins from you and me as an individual.
Every time I had a packet of Mameenoodle, I had to throw the plastic in the right place/rubbish or if I had it in the bus, then I had to put in my bag and throw it in the rubbish bin at home.
It wasn’t that perfect for the first time, but then each time I practiced it, eventually it became part of me.
I often told my family members about the art of responsibilities when it comes to rubbish management.
Our entire population of the Solomon Islands or in Honiara City is formed from a single person and if each one of us is held responsible to practise in putting his or her rubbish in right places then I believe ourplace would be different.
Being responsible can also be meant by being caring. If youor I don’t care about our place, our city then nothing would be changed.
I have met few people and they have suggested that the Town Council to put security guards to act on established laws, hence, impose high penalties against the offenders.
That would be awkward. How many of them would they stand out there everyday and watch over for people, or how much more millions of dollars dowe need to get to pay for more guards?
We sort of try to solve the problem here by looking at results, instead of trying all the possible ways to combat the source of the problem.
Believe me or not, ATTITUDE PROBLEM could be the disease for this situation.
If teachings and awareness programmes have been done in the past at home, in school, in churches, in offices and so forth, it could be better if it is done regularly, in that way, people would get information and practice it until it becomes part of one, in everyday living.
If one of us woke up in the morning, fold your beddings, wash your dishes after breakfast, put your food residue in the garbage bag and then off to school.
If you can help your mum or dad to reck up your back yard then why not you or we do the same for our Honiara City.
It is not too late, our responsible people, ministries, NGOs and so forth have been trying much to beautify our city.
However, unless all of us are responsible and caring, then we can at least have a clean city little at a time.
Michael Samo
Honiara
