KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality inspectors have issued hundreds of fines recently for burning greenery and throwing waste in public places. Violations by people who are damaging public property by uncivilized behavior by grilling at the seafront and on public beaches have increased. This led the Municipality to activate the already existing law of protecting these public places, which are considered to be most important places and utilities.
According to Osama Al-Duaij, Deputy Director General of Hawalli and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorates of Kuwait Municipality, the main problem is not in grilling and barbeque, but of the mess and damage left after them. "Grilling is allowed in public places, although the smoke coming from it does not look civilized. The problem is the damage caused by this act. People throw waste in public places, which is a violation that carries a penalty. Also they burn grass with the coal left after their barbeque, and this is a crime as well.
Some of them even commit more violations such as uprooting plants," explained Al-Duaij.
According to Al-Duaij, 90 percent of the violators are non-Kuwaiti. "The majority of the violators are expatriates, and unfortunately they are not cooperating with us. People should be aware that such acts are uncivilized, and we should not see it in a country like Kuwait. Such acts are not seen in countries like Europe or the United States, and people spontaneously know it is not acceptable. Here some people say that they were not aware it is illegal. But I think that we should not hold awareness campaigns, as in any civilized country there are no campaigns. People do not commit such acts, and if they do they will pay fines," he pointed out.
Not only local laws ban such acts, but the law in any other civilized country also penalizes such behavior.
"Even the law of nature refuses such uncivilized and damaging acts to the environment. People should pay fines if they commit such crimes so they will not repeat it again. This is what led the inspectors to enforce the law," he noted. Al-Duaij assured that it is not forbidden to grill outdoors in public places, but people should be careful to clean up after eating and having fun. They should also avoid burning grass and plants.
© Kuwait Times 2012
