A clean-up exercise was conducted yesterday in the Eccles Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, in an effort to make it ‘Eccles Gardens’ and to set an example for other communities.

Minister of Public Service, Dr Jennifer Westford in the clean-up yesterday

“We mobilise the village for people to come out and we get the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to come out with their tractors and trailers and help us and people also come out with their trucks and such to assist us,” he said.

The Director of the National Sports Commission said the programme clearing and cleaning of the shoulders of the roads, explaining, “We clean the road because when the road gets wider, people and children can walk on the road shoulder and not on the road.”

Also, garbage is removed, and he noted, “What is more exciting about it is that the people themselves are coming out.

Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee were also part of the team. Westford said , “We are trying to make Eccles an example for all of the other communities in Guyana.”

Noting Kumar’s pivotal role in the exercise, Minister Westford disclosed that the group was out since 06:30h yesterday.

“The sun is very hot but we are going to make this Eccles gardens. We are going to ensure that the whole of Eccles can be called Eccles Gardens,” she said.

“We are going to be putting down some more trees and ensure that residents keep the front of their premises clean,” she maintained.

“We cannot leave it all up to the government; people will have to take responsibility for their environment and that is what we are encouraging,” the minister said.

The group is going to expand its efforts to various communities along the East Bank of Demerara to assist in the ‘nice up’ the areas.

Another active member of the group, Senior Manager, Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Mr. Sean Richmond, said this drive would encourage community members to embrace togetherness in getting the job done.