A frustrating disconnect

Oct 09, 2013 Editorial

The beautification and subsequent meticulous maintenance of the plot of land adjacent to St Stanislaus College, immediately to the east of Parliament Building, speaks volumes. The area is very impressive and there must be the temptation at times to open this eye-pleasing garden for all and sundry to enjoy. But it appears as though that is how it will remain, a mere temptation.
The obvious disconnect with many in our society with respect to aesthetics and orderliness in general has effectively relegated us all to a life of peering through steel fences or bars to enjoy what those in other countries have become accustomed to.
The authorities have seemingly decided that this city highlight will not be desecrated, as have many of our once revered sites and structures.
But does it have to be this way?
We often speak of being our brother’s keeper and it is apparent that this is as far as we’re willing to go. Many a concerned individual, organization, youth group, diplomatic mission, etc., have asked for Guyanese to be their city’s keepers; their community’s keepers, all to no avail.
Those methodically pursuing the path of cleanliness and tidiness are inexplicably the objects of hilarity, ridicule or torment. The observations of a strong-willed female, youth group executive several weeks ago on a popular morning radio show were not only dispiriting but disgustingly familiar. The young lady spoke of efforts by her group to clean up a particular area, and the discouraging remarks made during the process.
She said that although there had been ample notification of the exercise, their presence was still something of a surprise to the neighbourhood. The astonishment soon turned to sarcasm and subsequently dissuasion. According to the young lady, there was the unkind assertion that they were wasting their time cleaning up, as the place would be “as it was” in a few days.
And so it is in Guyana that a basic human trait, hygiene, is no longer a priority.
Indiscriminate disposal of garbage, even when receptacles are provided, has long reached alarming proportions. The millions spent on public awareness campaigns have obviously been wasted. The recreational areas that are accessible are treated with contempt. Being untidy has become the norm.
But all cannot be laid at the feet of the public alone; there are the constant fights in City Hall, delayed payment of Council workers and sanitation contractors and companies, etc., along with a Local Government Ministry which is struggling to demonstrate its relevancy. Surely this is a recipe for disaster.
On Monday, a new document, “The Guidelines for National Waste Management Strategies: Moving from Challenges to Opportunities,” was released by the United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), which “seeks to provide strategic guidance to countries whose waste management systems are disorganized, haphazard or under-resourced or are in need of a review of their current strategies”.
In the document there is mention of a wrongdoing we can relate to in no uncertain terms – open dumping.
“Open dumping – the most prevalent waste disposal method in many countries – can lead to acute health impacts for those living closest to dumping sites, most often the urban poor. In addition, poor waste management can lead to significant environmental hazards: leachate from waste can contaminate soil and water, open burning of waste can cause air pollution and a failure to use recycled materials from waste means an acceleration in the depletion of ‘raw’ materials.”
It was highlighted that “the Guidelines offer a series of practical steps that can lead to the creation of an effective, efficient national waste management strategy. They include: “Preparing for the development of a national strategy by identifying leaders and gathering information, in particular through a baseline study. Identifying the fundamental elements of the strategy, including: establishing scope, identifying an overarching goal, estimating expected national benefits and identifying initial options for financing and resourcing.
Engaging with all relevant parties, taking into account the wide range of groups and interests involved. Securing political endorsement at an early stage is a critical step.”
Securing political endorsement…There’s a long road ahead of us.

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