WHILST community cleanup exercises in Albouystown and West Ruimveldt are wrapping up, several more communities have commenced their community enhancement and sanitation improvement programme under the Government of Guyana “Clean-Up My Country” Programme.

Last week, East La Penitence, Lamaha Park, and Stevedore Scheme signed their contracts, received their tools, and commenced de-bushing alleyways and parapets, and cleaning drains within their respective communities.
On Friday, the Programme Implementation Community Monitoring Unit made a site visit to Lamaha Park. Walter Charles, Lamaha Park Community Coordinator, who was on site, told the team that Block One, which comprises some 3600

square foot of land, was totally de-bushed, and its drains de-silted. Charles cheerfully noted that during the exercise, his team was able to remove five large alligators, one anaconda and another large snake. This debushing and desilting exercise, he said, is a great relief to the community, since the area was crowded with thick vegetation which created dwelling space for the reptiles. Cleaning of the second block of that community is expected to commence today.
Lamaha Park is divided into three blocks, and 42 residents from the community are involved in the cleanup exercise. .

Shawn Edinboro, who is responsible for coordinating the cleanup activities to improve the aesthetics and sanitation of East La Penitence, told the Monitor Unit whist on inspection in community, that BLOCK 1, bounded by Cocorite and Freeman Streets, was completed. Overgrown vegetation was removed from alleyways, parapets were weeded, and drains were cleaned. In addition, the coordinator opted to clean the secondary canal, which streams from Vlissengen Road to Mandela Avenue, in three phases, based on the boundaries of the community blocks.
So far, the portion within BLOCK 1 has already been cleaned. East La Penitence is divided into three blocks. The group comprising twenty persons commenced cleaning the community on September 4 and is expected to complete their community enhancement and sanitation improvement project on October 3 2014.
On September 11, La Penitence development group commenced their community clean up exercise. While, Stevedore, work commence on Friday 12 September. During a community walk about two weeks ago in Stevedore, it was noticed that the area was crowded with thick vegetation on parapets, in alleyway and the drains and secondary canals were completely consumed by think overgrown vegetation. One problem which was cited in the community is with a resident who opted to fence and cover the main drain in the community. This was seen as an encumbrance to the community cleanup activity. Residents also indicated that during heavy and excess rain fall, the small drains within the community are unable to drain the water since they depend on the main drain to service the community effectively.
Moving further into Georgetown, the team made a visit to Cummings Lodge to have a close up view of thecurrent state of the community and the works which will be required to enhance the community and minimise the health risks in light of an increase of vector-borne diseases.
Soon, work will commence in Tiger Bay, Kitty, Campbellville and Atlanticgardens.

In Albouystown, three groups are operating with a staffing of seventy persons. That community is divided into fifteen blocks. Currently the community clean up exercise is 80%

completed. Eleven blocks have been completed, three blocks are expected to be completed within two weeks and one block is untouched. In west Ruimveldt, sixty persons undertook the task of cleaning the community which is divided into four blocks. So far, two blocks have been satisfactorily completed while the other two blocks will be completed by September 30, 2014.