Maintenance of cleanups rests on citizenry

Jun 29, 2015 News

– Deputy Mayor

As nationwide cleanup efforts continue across Guyana, Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green says that maintenance of this programme in the city is the responsibility of the citizenry.
During a recent press conference at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Chase-Green noted the continuous cleanup exercises and applauded the efforts. However, she said, preservation of the efforts lay with the citizens of Guyana with assistance being offered by the M&CC.
“While we applaud all those persons who have been coming out to clean, we’re expecting that maintenance work will be done by you too,” Chase-Green said.
She added that the role of the M&CC was to provide technical assistance and machinery to the cleanup crews when necessary but this could only be done if a request is made. Additionally, five trucking companies are available to help cleanup crews.
“We’re working with the Ministry and we have a task force set up but if you don’t consult with us to say what date or time you’re cleaning, we won’t be able to have the trucks remove the stuff,” the Deputy Mayor said.
She explained that oftentimes garbage is left for days without being picked up.

In recent weeks, citizens from across Guyana have been coming out and cleaning their respective communities

When questioned by this newspaper about the provision of bins, Chase-Green said that the M&CC’s aim would be to have a bin at every street corner. However, in the meantime, this responsibility also lay with the citizenry.
“Bins will be provided over a period of time; we’d like to see a bin at every street corner but under the Public Health Act under Chapter 145 it states that every resident is expected to have a covered bin at the entrance of their gate so we would expect that all residents have a bin,” Chase-Green said.
She added that weekly garbage collections were also being conducted by the M&CC to alleviate the situation.
“Maybe we’ll look at putting in alleyway boxes but we’d like to put a bin at every street corner,” she said. She continued, “We appealed to the business community to donate bins and they can have their advertisements on it.” This method has already been adopted by at least one Georgetown business. Action Tyre has adopted a block in which they have placed bins on each corner.
Meanwhile, the drainage system in Georgetown and its outer environs will see a facelift, compliments of the Public Infrastructure Ministry.
According to a Ministry official, the Caneview Avenue going east is currently being done and is expected to be completed early his week. Cummings Street and nearby canals will also be completed by tomorrow.
The Ministry’s efforts are being aided by community development groups from Sophia, Nabaclis and Canal #1. These groups have cleared alleyways in Durban Street, David Street, Albouystown, around the Georgetown Public Hospital, Cummings Street, Middle St and Thomas Street. Several other areas are slated to be cleared.
However, the M&CC and Ministry are facing difficulties in getting equipment into certain areas. According to Chase-Green, work was being impeded in areas where there are squatters.
“Squatters pose a great difficulty for machinery to go along the embankment to clear, so we’re appealing to those squatters to make sure you come out and assist when the machinery is there; there should be no obstructions,” Chase-Green said.