Minister suggests citizens demand more, make frustrations known
THE citizens of Georgetown need to demand more from the City Council and let their frustrations be known, if there is to be any change in the garbage situation currently plaguing the capital, newly appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud suggested Thursday. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he highlighted his ministry’s position on the “unhealthy and untidy” surroundings.
“It’s a really sad affair,” Persaud said, disclosing that President Donald Ramotar also expressed concern over the pile-up of garbage.
Persaud added: “We are in sympathy with the citizens of the country and also with persons who have to commute through the city…they (the citizens) must let the Mayor know that he and his team need to fix the problem of garbage in the city.”
According to the Minister, it would appear, from the inability of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to control the garbage build-up in the city, that “they are  not serious in terms of making life comfortable and healthy for the citizens” despite the fact that they continue to collect taxes.
Persaud ontinued: “They are collecting the taxpayers’ dollars and, instead of using it for the benefit of the taxpayers, they seem to be selfish in the use of the resources. The Council seems to have given up on garbage collection but they have not given up on collecting the rates and taxes from the people and misusing it.”
He noted, too, that the situation is arising more frequently, where the government is being called upon to intervene on behalf of the M&CC and correct situations for which the Council is responsible.
Persaud declared that it is unacceptable and called on Mayor Hamilton Green to “own up to his responsibility“ and address the  problems.
The Minister said:“I have heard the Mayor making all sorts of statements and I think he is an old record that can no longer fool the people. He needs to get his Council together to focus on removing the waste from around the city. Maybe he needs to look at a way of cutting costs… I think the Council is taking the citizenship for granted and it is time enough for them to make their voices heard.”

NOT PREPARED
Persaud maintained that his ministry is not prepared to take over any of the municipality’s responsibilities and expressed the hope that the (M&CC) will finally get its act together and execute its mandate to the citizens of the city, this year.
Meanwhile, in a press release issued o Thursday, too, the M&CC said reports coming out of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Department revealed that the Council of Georgetown is faced with two major challenges, as it relates to the collection and disposal of solid waste in the city.  
“First, Cevons Waste Management- a private contractor hired by the Georgetown Municipality to assist in the collection and disposal of solid waste – has been experiencing serious difficulties with its fleet of vehicles. As a result, there has been a disruption of the collection schedule in several areas. These include South Ruimveldt, Cummings Lodge, Agricola, Mc Doom and East Ruimveldt. The collection system in Central Georgetown remains on schedule,” the release stated.
The Council took the opportunity to remind citizens that dumping is illegal and that the fine which can be imposed on those found guilty of this offence is $10,000.
The M&CC appealed to all citizens to “resist the temptation of such negative actions towards the environment” and advised all residents of local communities, who are affected by the disruption in regular collection that, where convenient, they should bury their garbage.
The release said the Council is making every effort to ensure that collection is returned to normal in all areas of Georgetown.