The prolonged plague of garbage

Sep 08, 2011 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It is quite disturbing, the response of the government to the still prominent and escalating garbage issue plaguing our garden city Georgetown.
I don’t know if others have noticed, but there doesn’t seem to exist a section of the immediate and neighbouring Georgetown areas that doesn’t vomit waste on its street corners.
Yes, we’ve all heard about the money given to City Hall to assist with the garbage clean-up efforts that should have never gotten to the state it was in the first place, but now, there is hardly any talk about the issue, as if it has been rectified.
Thank heavens we were able to make a dent in the garbage city flooding matter that existed in earlier months.
But that still is not enough, this is one’s health we’re speaking about and I bring up the issue because the mere exposure of the waste on street corners, in trenches and the many other makeshift dumping sites is totally hazardous. For one thing, the many unhealthy creatures that are attracted to filth often take residence in nearby homes.
My question to our leaders is why haven’t the garbage collecting services been the sole responsibility of our government? Why hasn’t such a critical aspect of preserving the nation’s health been left up to the ones elected to serve us, the citizens?
As I walked home from work yesterday, I passed three tall heaps of garbage, I frowned, then thought… why hasn’t anyone spoke about nationalizing such services? Why leave this to private individuals? Instead of having to buy two or three trucks when there is a garbage collection issue, buy a fleet of trucks and provide the social services that we expect a government to provide. Would it not be cheaper to do that and then finance the maintenance of such vehicles and its workers?
I guess it would be real expensive given that a one-flat NIS building in Berbice cost $69M.
I do believe that such a delicate part of our society’s health should be fortified and strongly believe that any chosen party should be responsible for ensuring City Hall does its job, or monitors this area itself, and stops putting the blame on City Hall.
Of course private companies will withdraw their services if they are not paid, they are businessmen. It’s a miracle how long they rendered their services before their withdrawal.
The issue is sickening and being from one of the less developed areas I am affected and would like to see a better response to this prolonged plague.
Concerned citizen

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