Dominican vegetable vendor is fined $6,000 for breaching the Litter Act after defying official order to clean up

A vegetable vendor was subjected to the full penalty for contravening the Litter and Prevention Act. 

She was charged with two counts of illegal dumping and appeared in the St. John’s Magistrates Court before Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh on Wednesday, September 29. 

The Dominican woman, who pleaded guilty to both offences, was fined $3,000 on each count. She was given until the end of December to pay the $6,000, or, in default, she will spend a year in prison. 

The court heard that the woman, on two separate occasions, September 7 and 17, dumped boxes at the back of the airport fence in the vicinity of Burma. The boxes had contained vegetables shipped from her native Dominica. 

On both occasions passersby saw her, informed her that she was committing an illegal act, and recorded her. Each time, the woman reportedly gave the individuals a few choice words. 

The matter was reported to the relevant authorities, and she was warned on the first occasion and instructed to return to the area and remove the boxes. 

However, instead of removing the items on her second trip, she was caught dumping more refuse. 

This was when charges were brought against her.