Looking at the environment

–through action in a ‘green’ economy

LAST week’s article, which began conversation on putting the Green Economy into action, dealt with the Sustainable Development pillar.
It was argued how this can be looked at in the form of developing a national programme, using indigenous resources that would create employment/jobs and economic opportunities for Guyanese.
This week, attention is being paid to the environment. The Environment in a Green Economy speaks to protecting the health and welfare of humankind through prudent ecology and vegetation management.
There are various areas within the environment that need to be tackled, by developing programmes to address the deficiencies that exist therein.

On July 14, 2010, the Government of Guyana ratified the Cartagena Convention, which brings to an end the building of septic tanks in communities. These are to be replaced by sewage systems, which will facilitate the processing of waste at treatment plants that will see its conversion into inputs for the creation of organic fertiliser, and the water derived therefrom to be used in farms.
The Convention also precludes the dumping of human waste in the Atlantic and rivers. Also, as Guyana pursues the extraction of crude oil from the Atlantic, the Convention stipulates that waste derived from such activities cannot be dumped in the waters; that it has to be brought to shore and be processed.

The Georgetown sewage system is outdated and overloaded, and continues dumping waste in the Atlantic. This needs to be tackled with some degree of urgency. The Georgetown Mayor and City Council can put in place a new or modified sewage system, and utilise treatment plants to bring Guyana into compliance with the Cartagena Convention.

A NEW THINKING
Treatment plants can be placed at various locations to meet the city’s needs. But achieving the aforesaid will require new thinking by the Council that would bring about clear understanding of the necessity for such approach, and how a programme can be conceptualised and developed around it.

Quite recently, during discussions with a member of the Council, the issue of Cevon’s Waste Management establishing a treatment plant on Mandela Avenue came up. Several reasons were given by the councillor why such a plant cannot operate from the location at reference; and, with all due respect to him, it became clear that he has no idea what he was talking about.

Treatment plants are presently operating in Guyana. In the 1960s, when the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ Housing Scheme, Tucville, was established, it was constructed with a treatment plant to manage the community’s human waste.
This plant is situated at the area known as Turning Point, and is still operational.

Treatment plants are common in communities across the world. Buddy’s International Hotel and the Marriott Hotel have their own treatment plants, and the same can be said for many major hotels in the Caribbean.
In Barbados, there is a sewage system dedicated to transfering the water from these plants around the island. That water is sold to farmers, who, in turn, utilise it in their farms.

There may be reservations about treatment plants being located in residential areas, as in the case of Mandela Avenue, on the notion that because human waste carries a stench, it will stink up the environment. This couldn’t be further from the truth.  The way a treatment plant is constructed, stench is not noticeable in the atmosphere.
Had many who pass by Turning Point or visit the Marriott and Buddy’s not been told that there were treatment plants present, they would not have known that, given the absence of a stench and threat to the fresh air/atmosphere.
BACK TO THE TABLE
It is hoped our city fathers and mothers can return to the horseshoe table from a position of knowledge and examine the progressive step being taken by a local business to bring Guyana into compliance with the Cartagena Convention, its role in addressing the nation’s public health, and the government’s push for a ‘green’ economy.
In the tourism sector, the call for cruise ships to visit Guyana cannot, and will not, materialise until these vessels are assured that their waste can be properly dumped and processed.

The movement and disposing of solid waste requires new approaches. No longer can waste be dumped into a hole and be covered over with dirt.  An eye on environmental consciousness requires putting systems in place to avoid fires and other hazards, for
instance, from the gas that emanates from solid waste landfill sites. In a ‘green’ economy, mechanisms are put in place to extract, process, and reuse said gas for domestic purposes.
Also, the thousands of discarded tyres cannot, and should not, be disposed of by throwing them in the dump. Compliance requires that they are disposed of in a manner that meets acceptable international standards.
Managing this waste can also create a new industry for remoulding/re-treading said tyres where possible.

In looking at the environment within the confines of a ‘green’ economy, it offers wide opportunities for improvement in our health standards, and creating what is considered “green jobs”.
Come next week, the discussion on this pillar will continue.

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