Posted by By: Alieu Jallow
Dr. Morro Krubally, a senior lecturer at the University of the Gambia and an Environmental Consultant said the Gambia is buried under massive waste and open disposal with impunity by individuals across the country as strong policy, political will and government determination are lacking thus leaving the country’s environment outlook the least enticing and mesmerizing.
The rate of indiscriminate dumping of waste in our communities, both public and private places, seems to be stretching out of control, hence the need for timely intervention by authorities.
In light of this, Dr. Morro Krubally is not in conformity with the realities on the ground and described the country as being buried under massive waste generated within the communities.
Dr. Krubally indicated that majority of waste generated in the Gambia is disposed of through informal dumpsites with people engaged in open burning in backyards causing pollution that can end up in the forests, Gambia River and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean.
“You don’t have to be a scientist and you don’t have to be a genius, you just have to be an ordinary person to look around in our neighbourhoods, our dwellings and on the streets to see the number of waste or refuse that has been thrown around with impunity”, said Dr. Krubally.
The Environmental guru acknowledged the efforts of KMC in managing waste, but stressed that the situation is beyond capacity.
Similarly, he attributes the compounding situation to people’s attitude towards the environment, noting individual dumping waste openly in un-authorised sites at night time whiles others contract donkey carts without having knowledge of the final destination of the waste they collect.
“Most uses the cover of the night and dump along Banjul highway to Banjul most likely done by donkey cart waste collectors”, Mr. Krubally said.
Dr. Krubally posited that the matter of garbage collections is so much of a business to the people than health implications which needs national outlook and approach.
Dr. Krubally indicated that the anti-littering laws are beautifully crafted and achieved but lacks full implementation and enforcement in which offenders are merely taped with a fine of D500 and just a call from the top will settle the matter without the law taking its course.