Rubbish headache for Lae, shop owners warned of big fines

LOTS of comments appeared on Facebook, other social media and in newspapers about cleanliness in Lae but people making the comments should remember that rubbish did not come on its own, says Lae MP and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso.
“People themselves have disposed of rubbish on the streets and are asking the authorities to pick up the rubbish, there are no slaves to pick up the rubbish and it costs a lot of money,” he said.
“So when you walk around the city, pick up your garbage and put it in the bins we provide.
“Do not just throw the rubbish around and then post and make stupid, idiotic comments that make me angry because we spend a lot of time, money and effort to try to clean the city.
“No one brings the rubbish in, the rubbish is brought in by individuals themselves. The people who do not have any common sense, throwing rubbish around in the city and then make comments about the city authority not collecting rubbish. The city spends nearly K3 million in cleaning up the rubbish every year.”
Rosso also sent out a strong word to shop owners to clean up the front of their shops. He said he would be sitting down with Ahi president Malcom Kalo and city Lord Mayor James Khay, to ensure every shop that did not have their front yards cleaned, would be fined heavily.
“We will make certain that you get fined. You make money and you don’t clean in front of your shops, then we will make it our business to go around making sure you collect your rubbish and dispose it properly,” Rosso said.