Editorial

Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino is starting the national campaign against littering on the wrong foot. There is no doubt he means well in his intentions but clearly he was adopting the wrong attitude right from the start when he urged wardens to use their discretion in the enforcement of littering and dumping regulations when these come into force next month.

True, it would be wrong for the green wardens to mount a witch-hunt against litter-bugs or to put the whole idea to ridicule by copying what some traffic wardens are so wont of doing, that is, by going to extremes. But it would be wrong for them to focus mainly on the "bigger problems", as the minister seems to be suggesting to them.

Mr Pullicino is reported to have told the wardens: "Don't go for the small fry but look for the big fish". This is manifestly a wrong approach to take. In a country where people simply do not care about the environment, where successive governments have failed so miserably in tackling the problem, there would seem to be only two ways that could possibly bring about an improvement and, gradually, a change in habits. These are heavy fines for littering and dumping and education in schools and at a national level through specially-made educational clips on television and radio.

The fines in place so far are no deterrent at all and the efforts in schools aimed at inculcating a new environmental culture leave much to be desired. As to national awareness programmes, or campaigns, these have been generally half-hearted and of a temporary nature. The stark truth is that the country has so far been incapable of dealing with the litter and dumping problem, as shown, to our shame, by the rapid degradation of the environment and the rubbish we leave behind wherever we go. The end result is that the island today is dirty and looks as scruffy as ever.

When all efforts to bring about a change in the people's culture have failed, only discipline - and education - could ultimately help bring about an improvement. Which is why it is wrong on the minister to urge green wardens to focus mainly on the bigger problems. We need to go both for the small fry and for the big fish at the same time and with a solid determination to stamp out littering and dumping. There would seem to be no other way than this and soft-pedalling would lead us nowhere.

It is simply a disgrace that the country's environment has been allowed to deteriorate at such a rapid rate. Politicians attempting to ride on any discontent arising out of a strict enforcement of the regulations would be held to account - at the polling booths when the election comes. Anyone supporting offenders would need to be exposed as a political opportunist.

Littering and dumping - and haphazard development in so many places - have scarred the face of Malta. And at a time when the island badly needs to revamp tourism in order to raise fresh revenue and boost economic growth, the situation is getting worse than ever.

No, there should be no witch-hunts but if the country wants to make a real start, it should this time act the right way. If only those who do not care about the environment were to just realise the harm that has been done to the island over the years, they would think twice before fouling the environment. So, let's be strict right from the very beginning.