Every weekday morning, before the hustle and bustle of office workers and joggers fills the parks of Suva, Marshall Narayan is already on duty, diligently cleaning up the litter. Despite his efforts, by the following morning, the park is often inundated with trash once again.
Narayan, a dedicated worker with the Suva City Council for 21 years, has been tasked with the daily cleanup of the park for the past year. He views the relentless cycle of littering as a troubling indication of a growing apathy towards public spaces.
“No matter how clean we leave it, when we come back the next morning it’s the same,” Narayan lamented. Contrary to common complaints about the lack of rubbish bins, he emphasized that there are indeed bins provided by the council placed around the park, but unfortunately, many visitors fail to utilize them.
Much of the debris he collects consists of fast-food wrappers, empty containers, and bottles, which are often left in the very spots where people eat, rest, or socialize. “People just leave it there and go,” he noted, expressing concern about a declining sense of civic responsibility.
Narayan observed that this issue has intensified over the past year, with fewer individuals taking responsibility for maintaining their surroundings. He believes that lasting change hinges on the attitudes and behaviors of park users. “If everyone just picked up after themselves, this place would stay clean,” he stated, highlighting the importance of community involvement in maintaining public spaces.
The ongoing efforts of workers like Narayan remind us that the cleanliness of our shared environments is largely a collective responsibility. A little awareness and effort from each visitor can lead to significant improvements, fostering a cleaner and more inviting park for everyone to enjoy.
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