Clearing your home and throwing away large appliances is very common at Christmas time.

And Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment Kwesi Des Vignes said some people dump their domestic waste “indiscriminately”.

He said this makes programmes to clean up waste, such as the initiatives white waste removal conducted by the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development, and CEPEP’s Community Development Week activities vital.

“Despite these cleanups,” the Secretary said during yesterday’s post Executive Council media briefing, “what we’re seeing now is that persons without any form of consciousness and restraint are throwing their stoves, fridges, beds on the sides of the roads.”

Des Vignes said this goes against Tobago’s brand: “Tobago: Beyond Ordinary”.

He encouraged that citizens not “turn us into liars” in the way the island has been branded and is currently being marketed.

The Secretary said just as the citizens call for public figures to be accountable, citizens too must be accountable, and support efforts to curb illegal dumping.