Litter louts beware

Harsher fines will be slapped on those who dump illegally or plaster posters on walls once the government embarks on a mission to target litter louts.

The regulations will be changed to raise fines and apply more pressure on offenders to pay up, Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said at the start of a national three-day, clean-up campaign yesterday.

Declining to give details on the proposed higher fines, Mr Pullicino said the changes, which follow talks with Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, will be made in a matter of weeks.

The amendments will, from the start of next year, also allow the authorities to fine those who display posters illegally. At the moment, only those caught in the act will be fined.

Last month, about 6,000 posters were removed from electricity poles, traffic lights and other public places as part of the national clean-up. Warnings were issued to those who displayed such posters without authorisation after viewing contact details on the posters themselves.

To curb the practice, Mr Pullicino said a system of official billboards will be introduced, together with the amendments, to provide an organised space for posters to be displayed against payment.

Speaking about the campaign, which forms part of the international Clean Up the World initiative, Mr Pullicino said the public, government departments, schools and other entities will be rolling up their sleeves between today and Saturday to contribute towards a cleaner environment.

Those wishing to take part in the campaign can send an e-mail to customercare.cleansing@gov.mt, call on freephone 8007 6608 or on 2295 2233/2295 2333.