The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) supports and welcomes the launch of the first Litter Enforcement Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) through its Environment & Conservation Division (ECD) from 01 May 2021 on the islet of Betio, South Tarawa.
With the theme Ikarekebai ibukin Betio Boboto, (Strengthening Community Based Partnership for effective Littering Enforcement on Betio), the campaign is a collaboration between Betio Local communities and Betio community policing to strengthen the enforcement of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, in particular the ‘Littering Provision’,
This campaign is the result of MELAD’s collaborative initiative with Betio Local Communities, facilitated during the 2020 MELAD week dialogue between MELAD-ECD and Betio Local Communities. The collaboration was officiated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aims to address the waste and litter challenges on Betio.
MELAD is also undertaking community consultations with several maneaba and waste and littering awareness roadshows on Betio. This will be followed by a number of scheduled enforcement training to local communities’ security representatives to be facilitated by MELAD with the support of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
The trainings will aim to build the capacities of these local community securities and empower them to enforce this Littering provision of the Environment Act on Betio.
MELAD is of the view that this outreach campaign will raise awareness and also prepare the general public on Betio for the upcoming enforcement of the Littering provisions of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, to be led by the Betio Local Communities with the full support of the MELAD Environment Inspectors and the Police officers stationed on Betio.
MELAD encourages the general public, Schools, Government Ministries and State-Owned Enterprises (SoE) to support this initiative.
