Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
West Ruimveldt completes community clean-up programme
The West Ruimveldt community has recently completed its sanitation under the
De-silted drain in West Ruimveldt.
Government’s “Cleanup My Country” Programme, significantly benefiting from the initiative with de-silted drains and canals as well as clean parapets and alleyways.
The cleanup activity within the community commenced on August 11, and was completed on September 18.
This programme served as a means of improving the community sanitation and minimizing criminal activities in the area.
For the cleanup exercise, West Ruimveldt was divided into four blocks. Fifty persons from the community undertook the task of cleaning up the environment.
When the “Clean-up My Country” Programme Implementation Committee visited West Ruimveldt on Thursday, the Community Group Coordinator, Feubia Monfort, told the officials that the “initiative surpassed that of community cleaning and brought out a renewed spirit of togetherness among residents.”
She said, “Residents are now overjoyed that after 30 years, the community drains are de-silted and parapets and alleyways are cleared of overgrown vegetation, bringing a new and healthy look to the environment.”
She noted that the Police Officers at the West Ruimveldt Outpost were also pleased with the efforts of the community’s clean-up group, as crime in the area is now minimal.
Monfort said that prior to the cleanup activities, “criminal elements used the overgrown vegetation around Gilhuys Stretch as hideouts to rob persons passing by.”
At present, she said that the entire square is cleared of overgrown vegetation, the parapets have been landscaped, and police have indicated to her that no crime has been reported in the area since it was cleared.
De-bushed parapet in the West Ruimveldt community.
From a personal perspective, Monfort said, “I feel so great that we have done it. The residents came out and worked; they gave assistance where needed and we have done it. Everything we were required to do, we did. We cleaned the drains, parapets, and landscaped several parts of the community.”
According to the Community Group Coordinator, most challenges were faced in managing the teams. She said, “Some persons saw the clean-up as a political gimmick rather than an opportunity to improve the environment.”
However, she noted, “The support from the majority outweighed the lack of encouragement from the minority.”
She said that residents supported the project by providing food and water for the clean-up group, while others came out with their tools to help in the cleaning activities.
Monfort said that she is relieved that the community does not have much garbage, but is concerned about preserving its current state.
She pointed out that most of the littering in the community resulted from school children and passengers from motor vehicles.
She said that the government must enforce penalties to dissuade persons from littering, so as to maintain the efforts of the Clean-up My Country Project.
She recommended that the Ministry of Education implement “litter education sessions” in community schools, which will equip children with the knowledge about littering and its effect on persons living in the community, as well as the adverse impact it has on the environment.
Monfort also recommended the presence of rubbish bins at suitable locations in the community, which would significantly reduce littering.
The Coordinator encouraged fellow residents to be on the “look out” for persons littering and to be more involved with keeping their immediate surroundings clean.
During the course of this week, Kitty, Festival City, Wortmanville, Shirley Field- Ridley Square and Guyhoc Gardens have all signed their contracts with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, and sanitation has commenced within the communities.
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