DHB management sickened by littering

Nov 05, 2008 News

– charges to be instituted

The management and staff of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), sickened by the constant littering taking place at the Bridge, have sought to sensitise the public in the hopes that the problem will diminish.
Maintenance Engineer at the Bridge, Arun Richards, explained that it is commonplace for garbage to be thrown out of cars as persons drive over the bridge. It is reported that the garbage is not just miscellaneous refuse from inside of the cars, but sometimes household waste.
He added that in the area near to the Retractor Span of the bridge most of the littering takes place, because this area has no rails and it is easier to throw the garbage into the river at this point.
Most of the time, the garbage does not go into the river, but ends up on the pontoons supporting the bridge.
About every six weeks, the DHBC undertakes a pontoon cleaning exercise, where sand and other debris are cleaned off of the pontoons.
“It is very disheartening and demoralizing for staff members to go to clean the pontoons and have to find rotting garbage on the pontoons,” said Richards.
He added that is it indeed disappointing that people choose to dispose of garbage in such a sorry manner. Apart from sullying the pontoons, and forcing DHBC staffers to deal with the garbage, said Richards, there is the pollution of the waterways.
He made it clear that the Bridge management was seriously considering instituting monetary charges of approximately $20,000.