Litter bugs beware as amendments approved to the Litter Decree will see the appointment of Police Officers as Litter Prevention officers and if they catch you littering they would have the powers to make you do community work on the spot by cleaning the entire area.

The Cabinet approved the Litter Amendment decree 2010 yesterday based on submission by the Minister for Local Government Colonel Samuela Saumatua.
 
Colonel Saumatua said that the current Litter Decree has not been effective in curbing littering and concerned citizens are dissatisfied with the increase of litter in public places, and not all towns and city councils have been fully implementing the Decree due to insufficient awareness.
 
He said whilst the Litter Prevention Officers play an important role in enforcing the Decree, there have been constraints in the enforcement due to inadequate number of dedicated LPO's to properly and fully enforce the Decree.
 
Colonel Saumatua said that the changes made under the new Litter (Amendment) Decree 2010, include the appointment of officers of the Fiji Police Force as Litter Prevention Officers (LPOs).
 
He said this would authorize a LPO to require a person who intentionally litters in a public area to do instant community service in or around that particular area.
 
The Department of Environment will form a Task Force with other government agencies to ensure the effective enforcement of the Litter Promulgation.