Editor:
Recently we were walking in the West Sechelt old mine site and came upon some dumped household garbage that contained an envelope with the name and address of a West Sechelt family. We called the bylaw officer for District of Sechelt who explained that his normal procedure would be to visit the family in question, determine if this was their garbage, and request them to clean it up. Failing that, they could be issued a ticket. However, the area is not within DOS, but is within the SCRD. He offered to refer the matter to his counterpart there and ask them to call us back. In the meantime, more garbage has been dumped in the same area, including some dangerous wire fencing that could pose a threat to wildlife by entangling them in it. After two weeks and no response, we decided to follow up with the bylaw officer for the SCRD. She informed us that they have no bylaw dealing with illegal dumping of garbage, and there was nothing she could do.
She advised calling the RCMP! And RAPP (Report all Poachers and Polluters). We decided the RCMP have other more appropriate matters they are dealing with, and called RAPP. The person there said they would pass it along to the conservation officer and someone would get back to us. So far, no call after more than a week, so we again called RAPP and they said that likely there was nothing they could do. It is not their job to pick up garbage, even if it endangers wildlife.
We are urging the directors of the SCRD and their staff to put their heads together and come up with a solution to the growing garbage problem in West Sechelt. To do nothing indicates a community that does not care about the environment or the welfare of wildlife, and encourages others to illegally dump their garbage. We surely can do better!
Joyce Rigaux, John Rayment, Colleen Haynes, Bruce Haynes, West Sechelt
