THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown is currently in discussions with the Government to identify a new burial ground and replace Le Repentir Cemetery, which is now packed to capacity.
But Town Clerk, Ms. Yonnette Pluck, who disclosed this in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said there has been, so far, no movement and the talks will have to be intensified. According to her, the municipality, looking to cease burials at Le Repentir, has identified a place at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
Meantime, she said private persons are interested in operating a crematorium at the same location while the M&CC wants to begin using its selected alternative by early next year.
Pluck said operations at Le Repentir can continue because some of areas have been cleared and made available.
She said, once Liliendaal is in use, relatives of the deceased would be required to maintain the tombs already at Le Repentir or at least contribute to good maintenance of the surroundings.
Pluck said, too, that the municipality is seeking to establish a contract with the Georgetown Prison for its inmates to be engaged in cleaning projects around there, using a bank account previously established to receive donations for restoration works.