CLOSE to a year after being declared a town by President David Granger, Bartica is well on its way to becoming the first “green” town in the country.

Millions of dollars have been pumped into the town to aid its transformation, while tackling critical issues such as the poor waste disposal management system which had plagued the residents of Byderabo for decades.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Bartica’s Deputy Mayor, Ms Nageshwari Kamal Persaud readily admitted that the dumpsite at Byderabo was a major health and environmental hazard.
“Garbage was literally overflowing to the road when we took office last year, and this is an area where people live,” Ms Persaud recalled. The stench was unbearable, she said.
“There was no proper system in place; people back then just dumped garbage anywhere, and that had created a major problem. But today, all that has been resolved,” Madame Deputy Mayor said.
Back in July 2016, she said, the Council managed to secure $20M from Central Government to restore the dumpsite, and establish a long-term plan for the relocation of the landfill site to 12 and 14 Miles up the Potaro Road, given that Byderabo is a residential area.
“I am happy to say that the Byderabo Dumpsite is now fenced and monitored,” the Deputy Mayor reported.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
“In fact, there is a maintenance crew that operates there not only a daily basis but on a weekly basis to control the manner in which the garbage is dumped,” she said, the feeling of accomplishment evident in her voice.

For the Bartica Mayor and Town Council, the rehabilitation of the Byderabo Dumpsite is a major achievement, she said, given the significance of the problem.
“I am very proud of the achievements through the Bartica Town Council,” the Deputy said, adding:
“The works that have been done through the constituencies, not just in Byderabo, are a testimony of our commitment; a testimony of the hard work of the Mayor and Councilors, and the supporting staff.”
Another major project the Council has taken on since taking office is the Greening and Beautification Project, which includes the rehabilitation of the Band Stands and the construction of a multi-million-dollar park in the West Indian Housing Scheme.
According to the Town Clerk, Ms Phebe Wallerson, the $31M ‘green’ recreational park in the West Indian Housing Scheme is more than 90 per cent completed, and is soon to be commissioned.
“There is still some landscaping work that needs to be done; we are planning to commission it on the very anniversary of our township, so it will be commissioned on May 7, 2017,” Ms Wallerson explained.
‘GREEN’ SPACES
The ‘green’ park, the first of its kind for Bartica, is being powered by solar energy, and comprises a three-tier fountain, a playground with walkways, benches, benabs, arched (kissing) bridges, and a ‘green’ space for trees.
The water for the fountain is being sourced from a natural fresh-water spring that was found at the backlands, while the mechanics of fountain itself has been engineered to function like a waterfall in motion.

Wallerson said the park, when opened, will create safe spaces where residents can hold barbecues, receptions, weddings, anniversary celebrations and other public events.
She said while there were residents who objected to the park in the past, many of them are now on board with the Council.
“That was a complete swamp,” Wallerson said of the site where the park is located. “When the initial works began,” she said, “at the time I wasn’t attached to the Council, but I, too, had my skepticism as to how they were going to actually transform this area into a park.
“So I think the first achievement is the vision that went into this project. As residents, many of us could not see where the Council was going with it at the time.”
The community in which the park can be found, she said, is home to hundreds of children, so they all would be able to benefit from its many facilities.
POWERING IT UP
In February, news of another major investment unfolded: The using of renewable energy to power street lights and the Three Miles Secondary School.
The Ministry of the Presidency’s Climate Change Office was able to secure a US$300, 000 grant under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership programme to execute the project in Bartica.
“LED street lights will be installed from One to Four Miles, and this is a first for the people living there, because, right now, they have none,” said Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee, Mr Kenneth Williams.
Additionally, 12 solar street lights will be installed at strategic locations in Bartica, while solar panels would be used to power the Three Mile Secondary School, in particular the dorms.
The final aspect of the project is the training of six youths from the town to install, repair and maintain the solar panels. This project is expected to be rolled out within the next two months.
Aside from these projects, Bartica, like many other towns and communities across the country, is benefiting from a series of infrastructural projects, such as the rehabilitation of several main and internal roads, and the installation of much-needed drains.