Dear Editor,
Please refer to a front-page photograph of a heap of garbage in the compound of the First Federation Building, under the caption, ‘Disgrace’ (SN, (November 10). It has captured the mammoth environmental health challenge we face every day in the city. Our public health inspectors have repeatedly warned and served notices to those who are operating inside that building, to clean up. The Chief Environmental Health Officer attempted to make contact with the rent collector but was not successful. We are in the process of taking all those who occupy that building to court. The situation must be corrected within days.

The thing is we cannot continue abusing the environment like that for ever. Citizens have to begin to understand that the health of the environment is their personal responsibility. Once they occupy or use space they should ensure that it is kept clean and tidy at all times. Further, they need to understand that their actions towards the environment have consequences for the general health of the environment and consequently their well-being. Negative environmental actions will always come back to haunt us.

Such accumulations will provide habourage for rodents, roaches, flies and other disease- carrying vectors. These would affect all other buildings in that area.
But there is absolutely no reason for anyone to behave in that way because we have a reliable and reasonably efficient garbage disposal service. This service is costing the council one million dollars a day.

This is money that we can hardly afford, yet people appear to be careless with the environment. Even if the city’s garbage service was not reliable there could be no excuse for the occupants of that building to have it in that dirty condition. Pride in self and city should influence all of us otherwise.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Public Relations Officer
Mayor and City Council