(SNO) — Public urination appears to be a major problem in Saint Lucia with the government earning up to $1,000 weekly in fines from people charged with the offense.
This is according to Mayor of Castries, Peterson Francis, while speaking last Friday at the opening ceremony of a new comfort station in Castries, a joint venture between businessman Maher Chreiki and the Castries Constituency Council.
He said the law against relieving oneself in public has always been there but now the government is raking in the dollars in fines for it.
“Nearly every week now the government is making $1,000, at least minimum, who have been caught urinating and have to go to court to pay..” he stated.
However, despite this, he said people continue to urinate in the open.
“But you know in Saint Lucia, even when you are doing something that is good, first thing they asking, yes, you are arresting people, where are the washrooms?” he stated. “But I can assure you that you have people coming next to the washroom and using the walls. They will not go into the washroom and the will still ask you where is the washroom.”
Francis said there cannot be an excuse from such behavior in the public domain and has issued an appeal for the public to use the comfort station to empty their bladders.
“We have minibus drivers, they have passengers on board,” he said. “They have tourists on board, they will stop anywhere and go at the back of the vehicle and urinate.”
He said such culture needs to be changed and threatened to be hard on those who break the law.
“And I have promised Saint Lucians one thing, as long as Peterson Francis is mayor, he will do and uphold what is correct,” he said.
The new comfort station is located on the William Peter Boulevard in Castries.
(7)
(1)The post Saint Lucia gov’t earns $1,000 weekly in fines for public urination — Mayor Francis appeared first on St. Lucia News Online.