Get rid of illegal billboards

THE EDITOR: Allow me space in your newspaper to voice this opinion. Throw this billboard thing into the garbage bin with the rest of the broken laws of this great country of ours. Here we have our goodly Development Minister Mr Rowley warning businesses to expect harsh penalties, two years after a proliferation of this unauthorised unsightly nuisance. Where were you from day one Sir? If you want to be put in charge of something like a ministry, you are responsible to do a tour regularly to ensure everything is running smoothly and according to law. This includes lowly billboards. Town and Country says that even though applications are refused, people still go ahead and install the billboards anyway. Poor souls. What a pity. Talk about accountability. If they cannot control the building of unauthorised billboards, imagine housing?

The Outdoor Advertising Association has admitted a number of billboards are unauthorised, but is appealing to the government not to take drastic measures without consultation. Boldly breaking the law by erecting and painting these advertisements and telling you, Mr Minister, it is a world phenomenon. (Testicular fortitude). Quite clearly they know we the government are too lazy to do anything, or better yet good at turning a blind eye. But then if the squatters can do it, who are they? What is really going on here? People breaking our laws. Government sees the law is broken and does nothing. Don’t look to the news media columnists for help, dey party in power now. Let me tell you why we elected you and what is expected of you, Mr Minister. We expect you to ensure the laws of the land are upheld. Whenever a law is being broken like this one, the perpetrators are to be advised to desist and to remove the billboards within two weeks time. Refusal will entail government removing the offending material with the cost charged to the offender. Repeat offenders are hauled off to court. If you, the twenty-six ministers were to each take care of one law that is being broken in this country today, this place will be the paradise we like to boast of. Dictatorial you say? So was First World, I say.

NAZIM  MOHAMMED
San Juan