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GWMA host “much needed” Bartica clean-up
By Abena Rockcliffe
The Guyana Women Miners’ Association (GWMA), an organization that has visited and done outreach work in all mining districts across the country, has identified Mahdia and Bartica as the most polluted.
With that being considered, the Association, with the help of selected inmates from the Mazaruni Prison, yesterday undertook a cleaning exercise within Bartica, which is considered the gateway to the interior.
Approximately 19 females and two males from the GWMA and 40 prisoners combined in cleaning the market area and several other streets in the community.
The Regional Chairman for Region Seven, Gordon Bradford, while overlooking the exercise, noted that the Region is “strapped” for resources to tackle the garbage situation. He said that there is neither enough equipment nor workforce to do what is needed.
Bradford said however, that Barticians need to recognize the need to have a garbage free environment. He noted that at present, the community is driven by the mining sector. But, “those of us who want to be realistic know that that will not be the key forever, so we need to start working on developing Bartica as a tourist destination.”
GWMA members and prisoners during the clean up exercise in Bartica.
Bradford said that the community is being faced with the dilemma of works not being maintained. “This area could be cleaned today, and tomorrow somebody will dump things here.”
He noted that at present, there is no system in place for garbage to be properly disposed of and therefore citizens, “especially those business people, who have the most rubbish, they pay the people of unsound minds to dispose of the garbage for them and most times they just dump it in front the market.”
“Some even take their garbage near the site and dump it on the road, so we have to constantly be clearing the roadway there also.”
This newspaper understands that the land currently being used as the dumpsite is privately owned; and according to reports, “the man wants them to stop using the land. He ready for the land but they don’t have any other place to dump garbage.”
Bradford yesterday disclosed that a contract was recently signed between the Ministry of Local Government, the Regional Democratic Council and Cevons Waste Management for the creation of a new landfill site.
When the site is completed, he said, Cevons will be entering into a private contract with citizens so as to have their garbage removed from their respective locations. The Regional Chairman said that a price has been set at $300 per barrel.
He said that the new system should be implemented by the second day in January next year.
“As soon as the system kicks in, we will be clamping down on residents because they will have no more excuses.”
Bradford said that collective works are being done to address the “outdated” fine for littering.
The Regional Chairman said he welcomed the gesture by the GWMA to create a healthy and safe environment but called on others to identify with their duties to maintain a clean environment as “it has an effect on all of us and can especially harm the children.”
GWMA’s initiative was inspired by the national “Pick it up” campaign. One of the campaign’s representatives, Shawn Mendonza, who was at the location yesterday, said that the programme will be working with Bartica. He commended GWMA’s initiative and noted that he hopes that Barticians will sustain it.
President of the GWMA, Simona Broomes, who orchestrated the outreach, said she was heartened by the support shown by the business community, especially Church’s, who provided two pieces of chicken and a drink each for all 40 of the inmates who participated in the clean up yesterday.
She also said that she appreciated the support of the Regional Chairman. However, Broomes said that she thought the persons from the “Pick it up” campaign would have been more physically involved but acknowledged the material donation.
Broomes also expressed disappointment with the “no support” given by the Interim Management Committee (IMC). She said that a truck was promised “but it didn’t come and no one had the courtesy to call and say something.”
She acknowledged that the Fire Service was willing to help to wash the streets but a car collided with the parked tender.
“We need to raise awareness if not there will be an outbreak of some kind of disease and Barticians should allow that.”
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