The
National Environmental Agency (NEA) has issued a statement outlining the
offences and penalties on defaulters of the ban on plastic bags in The Gambia.
In a press release sent to this paper yesterday, the NEA outlined the offences and penalties on any person found wanting quoting a bill entitled “Ban on Plastic Bags Order, 2015”.
The release reads: “The National Environment Agency wishes to inform the general public that the ban of plastic bags in The Gambia has been into effect since 1st July 2015. The public is further informed that all offences in relation to importation, manufacturing and use of plastic bags are punishable by law under Section 9 of the Plastic Bags Ban Order, 2015. All residents in The Gambia are therefore urged to comply with the order or face legal charges.”
The offences and penalties contained in Section 9 of the Plastic Bags Ban Order are:
1.A person whocontravenes this Order commits an offence and is liable on conviction, in the case of:
a)a manufacturer or an importer, to a term of imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than twelve months or a fine not less than two hundred thousand dalasis but not more than five hundred thousand dalasis or both the fine and imprisonment;
b)an individual who sells plastic bags, to a fine not less than two thousand dalasis but not more than five thousand dalasis; and
c)an individual who uses plastic bags, to a fine not less than one thousand dalasis but not more than three thousand dalasis.
2.All persons convicted under this Order shall be dispossessed of any available stock either in the form of raw materials or finished bags and those bags shall be taken to the appropriate store established, identified or recommended by the Agency.
3.In case of repeated offenders, they shall be liable, on conviction to double the penalty in the first instance conviction.