Trend of Mosquito Breeding by Households and Commercial Entities over Last Three Years
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the trend of mosquito breeding in households and commercial entities, the number of repeat offenders, and the effectiveness of current enforcement measures. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli B M M noted that enforcement actions rose between 2016 and 2018, with 1,850 actions taken in early 2019 following 372,000 inspections. He highlighted that since 2016, all households found breeding mosquitoes face fines, with current penalties under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act reaching up to $5,000 and potential imprisonment. The Minister reported three repeat offenders among households in early 2019 and noted that heavier penalties apply for subsequent convictions to maintain a strong deterrent. The National Environment Agency continues to monitor the penalty regime to ensure it remains appropriate to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of dengue.
Transcript
26 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources over the last three years (a) what has been the trend of mosquito breeding by households and commercial entities; (b) how many cases of repeat offenders have there been; and (c) whether the current level of enforcement and severity of punishment are sufficient to deter offenders and better prevent the spread of dengue.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Between January and May 2019, the National Environment Agency (NEA) conducted more than 372,000 inspections which uncovered about 6,500 instances of mosquito breeding. About 900 enforcement actions were taken against households, including three repeat offenders. Another 950 enforcement actions were taken against other premises, which include construction sites and commercial premises. The total number of enforcement actions taken for mosquito breeding has generally increased between 2016 and 2018.
To safeguard public health, NEA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone found to be breeding mosquitoes. NEA last reviewed the penalty regime in 2016 to impose a fine on all households detected with mosquito breeding, and not just those found with breeding within active dengue clusters. Under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act, owners whose premises are found with mosquito breeding may be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months or both, with heavier penalties for subsequent convictions. NEA will monitor the enhanced regime to ensure that the penalties for mosquito breeding are appropriate and have sufficient deterrent effect.