St. Croix Administrator Seeks to Rescind New Trash Law Fines for Christiansted Business Owners: 'Let's Start Over'

In response to unexpected trash law citations, Samuel Sanes advocates for the cancellation of charges and proposes an educational campaign on waste disposal regulations

Following reports from the Consortium that business owners in the town of Christiansted received citations and hefty fines for violating a trash law they say they were never made aware of, St. Croix Administrator Samuel Sanes says he is trying to have the charges dropped. Mr. Sanes also wants to have dialogue with V.I. Waste Management Authority officials about adjustments to their enforcement of the trash statute. ‌On May 23rd, WMA enforcement officers confronted Christiansted business owners about how they dispose of their business waste. Once the owners admitted to using public receptacles for the waste, they were given citations for violating VI Code Title 19, subsection 1563, which mandates that businesses utilize the Anguilla Landfill or engage the services of a business trash hauler. Many local business owners described the confrontation as distressing and overwhelming, including Maria Banwaree, owner of Unique by Maria Banwaree Art Studio and Boutique. Ms. Banwaree told Consortium journalists that she received no warning after learning she had been violating the law. After being threatened with arrest, the business owner said that she felt coerced into signing the citations. A week later, according to Ms. Banwaree, Mr. Sanes was at her establishment to personally apologize for the confrontation.‌