Latest update April 16th, 2026 12:40 AM
The national clean-up exercise
Dear Editor,
The ongoing National Clean-Up Campaign being advanced by the PPP/C administration raises serious concerns regarding governance, accountability, and respect for Guyana’s local democratic framework.
At the outset, one must question whether this initiative represents a genuine, sustainable public policy intervention, or whether it is yet another centrally driven exercise that undermines the authority and functional role of Local Government Authorities (LGAs). The Constitution and the statutory framework governing local democracy in Guyana clearly envisage that municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils are primarily responsible for the maintenance and sanitation of their respective jurisdictions. Yet, the current approach appears to bypass these institutions, thereby eroding their autonomy and weakening the very fabric of local governance.
Equally troubling is the absence of any coherent, long-term strategy underpinning these clean-up exercises. What the public continues to witness are episodic, highly publicised activities that lack continuity, measurable outcomes, and community ownership. There is no evidence of structured waste management systems, behavioural change programmes, or institutional strengthening to ensure that cleanliness is sustained beyond the day of exercise. This raises the inevitable question: are these campaigns about optics rather than outcomes?
Of even greater concern is the glaring lack of transparency and accountability with respect to public expenditure. To date, there has been no clear disclosure of the total sums expended on these national clean-up activities. Under which budgetary allocations are these initiatives being financed? Notably, Budget 2026 contains no explicit line item for a National Clean-Up Campaign. This gives rise to legitimate suspicions as to whether these expenditures are being subsumed under other programmes, such as the “Men on Mission” initiative, without prior disclosure during the budgetary examination process.
Such an approach, if true, would represent a troubling departure from the principles of fiscal transparency and parliamentary oversight. It therefore becomes imperative to ask: is the Auditor General’s Office actively monitoring this expenditure, and will there be a comprehensive audit to ensure that public funds are being utilised in a lawful and efficient manner?
The deterioration of the local government framework under the PPP/C must also be placed on record. This stands in stark contrast to the period under the APNU+AFC Coalition, during which two successful Local Government Elections were conducted in 2016 and 2018 (without the benefit of oil revenues), and where communities were demonstrably cleaner and better managed through empowered local authorities.
Today, instead of strengthening these institutions, we are witnessing increasing centralisation, political interference, and the marginalisation of local democratic organs. This trajectory is neither sustainable nor consistent with good governance principles. As Guyana approaches its 60th Independence Anniversary on May 26, 2026, one must ask whether the nation will once again be subjected to another round of ad hoc clean-up campaigns aimed at creating a temporary veneer of order, rather than investing in enduring systems that reflect national pride and civic responsibility. Guyana deserves better. We deserve policies that are transparent, accountable, and sustainable policies that empower communities rather than sideline them.
Yours sincerely,
Annette Ferguson
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