THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is now facing a crisis situation, with regard to waste disposal, following the announcement that the commissioning of the Haags Bosch landfill site, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been delayed. Mayor Hamilton Green, who acknowledged it, said, given its mandate to dispose of garbage, the municipality has to find an alternative or go higher at the existing location in Le Repentir Cemetery, which is already towering high above the landscape.
He spoke at a Press Conference at City Hall about the issues which all spring from not being able to garner enough revenue through rates and taxes.
The date previously given the M&CC for handing over Haags Bosch was August 1 but Mr. Green said it was only after making enquiries that the change had become known.
He said, on enquiring of the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, City Hall learnt that the delay, attributed to technical difficulties, is until October.
Meantime, therefore, it is evident that the Le Repentir dump will continue to grow larger over the next few months, Green said.
He conceded that has created problems, for which the M&CC did not cater, in terms of finances and equipment.
M&CC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Royston King, declared that it is unacceptable to allow the continuation of this untoward development, not only creating inconvenience and a public health threat to citizens in the surrounding areas but desecrating the dead, as well.
Over the last several weeks, privately contracted garbage collection and disposal crews have withheld their services, resulting in irregular collection of waste, although a few civic-minded business concerns have been assisting by bearing the cost of the removal in some sections of the city.
Such businesses include Humphrey’s Bakery, John Fernandes and Nigel’s Supermarket, whose initiative was highly commended by Councillor Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) who was present.
Green congratulated those delivering the service in collaboration with the City Engineer’s Department staff, who, literally, work through the night to get the job done.
Potential
The Mayor appealed to citizens to exercise care in disposing of waste in this time of crisis. Concerned over the potential for diseases spreading by insects, rodents and animals rummaging bins, he urged: “As you  dispose of your waste, sprinkle a formalin solution or jeyes fluid to prevent them disturbing it over time.”
Reiterating that City Hall is cash strapped and has not had its revenue base broadened, Green was adamant that the bulk of delinquent taxpayers in the city are Government owned properties which have not been paid for in the second and third quarters of the year.
King confirmed that the amount owing and due by this category of defaulters is $41.2M but others include Reeaz Khan, Ocean View Hotel, Kingston Milk Plant, Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), all of whom have been taken to the Courts that he lamented are moving at snail’s pace.
Green noted that Government has sold several properties in the city and, at the same time, removed the obligation to pay taxes, by way of passing a 1998 law which relieves the sellers of the burden of paying to get certificates of compliance.
“This resulted in agencies disposing of Government properties, left, right and centre,” he charged.
Green cited other instances of what he called unfair practices, like having utility services, like water and electricity supplies to the Council, cut by Guyana Water Inc (GWI) and Guyana Power & Light (GPL).
He is of the view that all this is part of a carefully orchestrated plan to “squeeze” him as Mayor into giving up.
But Green stated: “Removal of the Mayor is not an option. What is necessary, at this time, is for Government to pay up the $41.2M owing as taxes to City Hall, because, in order for works to be undertaken, there must be money in the coffers.”