Write a letter to a friend about the Jamaican government banning scandal bgs
Answers
Dear Editor,
It is short-sighted, at best, to ban cheap plastic bags, for the ill effects will far outweigh the benefits.
While rich countries continue to pump millions of tons of plastic waste into oceans daily, Jamaica's contribution to these garbage mountains is hardly a blip for environmental harm. Global pollution causing acid rain, ozone depletion and breathing problems do much more harm to Jamaica than any pollution that is generated locally. The decision to ban “'scandal bags” is really no more than good public relation for the Government and a distraction, at best.
In practical terms, however, a ban on plastic bags will negatively impact thousands of local businesses. These include garment stores, supermarkets, farmers, itinerant vendors, food handlers, homeowners, and anyone who wraps, stores or discards stuff. Most of these people will now be forced to buy far more expensive alternative bags, and pass such costs on to an already overburdened public.
A ban is not the answer and the Government should reconsider it immediately.
On the other hand, we definitely need to clean up our local environment. The ubiquitous scandal bags clogging gullies, drains and beaches are worse than eyesores and germ breeders. But plastic, per se, is not the real culprit. The real culprit is our people's nastiness and their irresponsible behaviour with trash. It sickens one's stomach to see garbage flying from moving vehicles and to see sneaky people leaving their garbage on sidewalks, in open lots and gullies for others to handle.
Add to that the ineptitude of enforcement with regards to illegal dumping and the failure of authority to prosecute and fine people who do not clean up their properties. These are the actions that can restore cleanliness and respect for ourselves and for the Jamaican environment.
It would have been far better to launch an islandwide clean-up campaign backed with severe penalties for illegal dumping than to ban useful bags.
Glen McFarlane
St Catherine