We may not be a developed country, but does that mean we can't be clean?

We may not be a developed country, but does that mean we can’t be clean?

Dec 09, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kindly permit me to talk about the garbage crisis facing our country. I am baffled as to why our politicians continue to ignore this problem.
I traverse the East Bank Demerara to Georgetown route daily, and everywhere I look there are piles of garbage and the roads are littered with sand, dirt and gravel.
Let’s start with the roads on the embankment. Every day trucks traverse carrying construction materials. Any person traversing these roadways can attest to the amount of sand and gravel on it, and every day the pile is growing larger. The sidewalks are much worse and look as if they haven’t been cleaned in years. It’s ironic as I have seen street sweepers in the area but it appears that they’re not doing anything.
The garbage problem is much worse. In this instance, I don’t put the blame fully on the government as this problem is largely as a result of citizens dumping their waste without any regard for the environment. These vendors that are springing up next to our roadways dump their garbage as they see fit, and since the authorities don’t do anything about it, they continue with the same habits. I’ve witnessed taxi drivers and vendors plying their trade at the Mocha road entrance dump their garbage into the adjacent canal. Is it difficult for a group of adults to come to a consensus that garbage cans are needed and to pool resources to purchase them. Apparently, it’s inconvenient to do so and much easier to just dump the garbage. What are the authorities doing? Who is monitoring these vendors plying their trade to ensure that they are complying with policies? In developed countries, a licence is required before a person can vend and they are obligated to meet strict requirements set by the council but I guess Guyana is a free for all.
Now we get to Georgetown. At every corner, every crack and crevice, every lot there is garbage. There is garbage in front of businesses, which is completely absurd. How could any respectable business be okay with garbage surrounding it? There are many abandoned lots, which have become mini landfills. Not only is this an eyesore, it’s also a health hazard as it becomes a breeding ground for vermin. The bus parks are always filthy and some stink of urine and other foul odours. I don’t understand how vendors can ply their trade in such a state and how consumers can purchase food in such an environment.
The NDC is a failed system and can never fulfill its mandate because of blatant corruption and incompetence. NDCs are also not self sufficient and this is because most of their funding comes from subventions from central government. They are always ‘crying broke’ and most citizens have realized this, that’s why they didn’t turn up to vote. Why vote for a system that never has funds to accomplish anything? Until property rates are charged and paid, the local government system will never fulfill its mandate. Nevertheless, the government has a duty to ensure this country is clean and should spare no expense to do so. Citizens also need to take responsibility and dispose of their garbage more responsibly. I would be ashamed to bring foreigners into this country and have them witness all this filth. We may not be a developed country but does that mean we can’t be clean? Do we need oil revenues to keep out country clean? Do our politicians not look outside the windows of their luxury vehicles and see the state of this country or are their windows so heavily tinted that they are unable to?
Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the problem:
1) More garbage cans placed around the capital city and all other municipalities, and should be emptied every day.
2) All NDCs should have their own garbage trucks and street sweeping equipment.
3) Punish or fine vendors, homeowners, businesses who do not dispose of their garbage responsibly.
4) Non-violent offenders should be made to help clean up the garbage.
5) Lots that are unoccupied should be properly fenced to avoid trespassers dumping garbage
Maintenance is key while it is tedious it is necessary for a clean Guyana.

Michael Fraser

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