AS PART of the sustainability plan for “Clean-Up My Country” Programme, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is tackling the issues of solid waste from a holistic approach where several measures are in place to strengthen the capacity of the seven municipalities across Guyana with the aim of each being more proactive in managing the regional solid waste programme.

Minister Norman Whittaker, in a recently held press conference, stated to tackle the crises of illegal dumping of garbage which is having a direct negative effect on the environment, the ministry will strengthen the capacity of the municipalities to make them more efficient in the collection of garbage by procuring machinery and solid waste receptacles.

While the Georgetown cleanup focus is on community enhancement, improving drainage network and minimising the health risks due to untidy environment, the regional aspect will be focused more on procurement of machinery which will help the NDCs in maintaining a clean environment.

Under the “Clean-Up My Country” programme, all Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) will be in possession of machinery to collect and transport garbage to their local landfill sites. Tractor and trailers are being procured and will be handed over to the NDCs which will help support the councils with transporting of garbage from public spaces and mini excavators will be distributed to some of the RDCs where intensive drainage programms nees to be undertaken.

To improve the level of efficiency during transporting of solid waste, access roads to landfill sites will be repaired and constructed where necessary.

For commercialised waste, 130 skip metal bins will be procured and placed in highly commercialized areas and markets within Georgetown and at the most at risk locations within the NDCs.
For the storing of  domestic solid waste in  Georgetown and across the regions,  45 gallon metal bins will be procured and distributed to residents within communities where household are in need of bins to retain the garbage.

Simultaneously, with the community clean up exercise, residents will have the opportunity to get rid of bulky waste since the Ministry is in the process of implementing a pick-up schedule within communities.

To address the issue of the spread of vector-borne diseases in light of the chikungunya virus, each Regional Democratic Office will receive a fogging machine which will be used to control the mosquito population. Last week, Region 3 administration received its fogging machine.

While the Government of Guyana is providing the necessary support mechanism of instruments to the local authorities, it is expected that this support infrastructure will be utilised for the sustenance of the end product of the “Clean-Up My Country” programme, hence there should be no excuse why the country is not kept clean and the environment healthy for persons to dwell in.

For the Georgetown Municipality, non-functioning garbage collecting machinery of the Mayor and City Council will be repaired and used for maintenance of the Georgetown programme. Last week, the Ministry was given approval from the National Tender Board to repair the council’s machinery.

Minister Whittaker also stated assets procured under the “Clean-Up My Country” programme will be housed at the RDCS but used primarily by the NDCs for community disposal of garbage and development under the Garbage Cleaning/Removal aspect of the programme.

“Clean-up My Country” is a $1B programme which has been approved by the government of Guyana to improve the aesthetic and sanitation of the country. This programme is divided into two aspects: the Georgetown cleanup and the Regional cleanup. In Georgetown, $500M was allocated for the improvement of the aesthetics and the health of the environment of the capital city, while $500M is allocated to strengthening the capacity of the seven municipalities.

“Clean-up My Country” is a $1B programme which has been approved by the government of Guyana to improve the aesthetic and sanitation of the country. This programme is divided into two aspects: the Georgetown cleanup and the Regional cleanup. In Georgetown $500M was allocated for the improvement of the aesthetics and the health of the environment of the capital city while $500M is allocated to strengthening the capacity of the seven municipalities.