No End in Sight to Garbage Woes in Dominica

Dominica continues to face an unprecedented crisis in the collection, disposal and management of its garbage. Throughout the Island garbage goes uncollected and is piled up on street corners in mainly residential neighbourhoods.

The problem has persisted for several months now, and the government of Dominica appears unable or unwilling to tackle the problem. What appears to be at stake is the unavailability of garbage trucks or even a well-thought-out plan for garbage disposal.

Comments from public officials on the matter have generally been muted. On one recent occasion a public official requested that people keep their garbage preferably on their fridges until the issue is sorted out.

Whatever the reason for this problem, it is blamed for an even bigger crisis on the island that of leptospirosis. This is a disease caused by bacteria spread by rats, dogs and other rodents. It is believed that the uncollected garbage has played a great role in the spread of the disease on the island.

In the recent past, two individuals are known to have died from the disease and at least ten others hospitalized. Meanwhile panic is growing among the population as the problem spirals out of control and there appears to be no solution in sight.

The big question on everyone’s mind is whether a government that is unable to deal with a seemingly trivial issue of garbage collection should be left to govern the affairs of state.