AS the curtains come down on yet another community consultation exercise, residents of Sections ‘M’ and ‘K’ Campbellville have reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the $500M cleanup Georgetown project. 

At the Campbellville Secondary School, Georgetown, last Saturday, were Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker; Project Manager of the Georgetown Solid Waste Management

Programme, Mr. Gordon Gilkes; Town Clerk (acting) of the Georgetown Municipality, Ms. Carol Sooba; Director of Solid Waste Management, Mr. Walter Narine; and Director of the Department of Environmental Management and Compliance at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Khemraj Parsram.
Representing the residents of Section ‘M’ Campbellville was City Councillor Junior Garrett. In his remarks, the community representative affirmed that the residents are “ready, able and willing to commence” the initiative.

CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS
Concerns raised by residents in attendance included illegal dumpsites, unmanaged vegetation, neglect by residents and City Council to ensure effective solid waste management removals, and the blocking of main canals and alleyways by businesses in the community.

Responding to some of the concerns raised, Minister Whittaker called on the residents to accept their role in the sustainability of the project. He said, “let us work together to bring the desired changes, [and] see this cleanup campaign as a first step.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Whittaker underscored that while the project had been limited to major works such as de-silting major canals, cemetery rehabilitation and improving the capacity of the Georgetown municipality, there are others works that must be done. These works, he said, should be undertaken by the community.
“There are other works that need to be done — internal drains, alleyways and vegetation. We want to involve the people in the community in doing it.”
Minister Whittaker noted that the communities, through organised groups, will be given a source of revenue so that they “can feel a sense of pride that you are involved in the cleanup of your own community.”
He disclosed that a Clerk of Works at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development would be employed with direct oversight responsibility over community groups utilising funds for environmental upkeep.
Meanwhile, at the fifth consultation held that afternoon at the Lions Club of Bel Air Park, Georgetown, residents were represented by Vice President of the Section K Campbellville Community Development Association, Mr. Gary Hall.
Present was Member of Parliament, Mr. Joseph Hamilton, who suggested that prison labour should form part of the sustainability aspect of the $500M project.
Recognising the community development group, EPA Director, Mr. Khemraj Parsram urged the residents to develop a draft proposal for works to be conducted in the community and to present this to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
The $500M cleanup Georgetown project is a four-phase initiative aimed at rehabilitation of main sluices and kokers, de-silting of major canals, the restoration of Le Repentir Cemetery, and the repairing of solid waste management equipment at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.
The Local Government Ministry aims to improve the capacity of the Georgetown Municipality in delivering effective solid waste management services to citizens. The Ministry has since conducted community consultations in Sections L, M and K Campbellville, Newtown Kitty and Houston.

(By Derwayne Wills)