The government is moving to strengthen the Litter Warden Programme, following growing public concerns about the visibility and effectiveness of wardens responsible for monitoring illegal dumping and other environmental infractions across Antigua and Barbuda.

Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, confirmed that the programme is currently under review and will undergo a complete revitalization to ensure greater accountability and impact.

“People are asking, ‘Where are they? Do we have any? They are being paid,’” Merchant acknowledged. “There has been a revitalization of the wardens, and steps are being taken to ensure they are properly trained, equipped, and deployed where they are most needed.”

The litter wardens form an integral part of the government’s environmental enforcement strategy, tasked with monitoring communities, identifying illegal dump sites, and reporting offenders.

However, in recent years, there have been public complaints that many wardens are rarely seen in action, even as the problem of littering persists across several communities.

Merchant explained that the restructuring process will not only boost field presence but also improve data collection, reporting mechanisms, and coordination with other agencies such as the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), which is currently spearheading the National Cleanup Campaign.

He emphasized that the reform is part of a broader government push to ensure that every component of the cleanup initiative from enforcement to education functions effectively.