…from landfill to golf course.
THE Le Repentir Landfill site has been finally and completely closed, literally, bringing a breath of fresh air to citizens residing in North East La Penitence, Princes Street Lodge, and neighbouring communities, who can now breathe easy, after waiting to exhale, in a manner of speaking, for so long. A well-thought-out and executed project for the restoration of the landscape and assured hygienic standards has seen the site, condemned and officially closed less than one year ago, now literally transformed into an apparent serene mound of green.

Residents occasionally conjured up nostalgic reflections of the past scenarios when the dump site, towering 170 metres high and more than 30 metres wide, dominated the landscape. All agree that what now obtains is ‘a veritable breath of fresh air’.

Pleasing to the eye, and free of the ugly stench, putrid fumes and toxic gases occasioned by intermittent fires caused by ‘junkies’ rummaging through the dump, the site now takes on the appearance of a golf court, from a distance.

Dumping garbage at that site continued long after City Hall had declared that activity should cease, pending the opening up of the new site at Haags Bosch, aback of Eccles, East Bank Demerara. That illegal activity constituted a health hazard and a virtual eye sore in Capital Georgetown, and to residents of contiguous communities.
But for ‘junkies’ and gauldings, it constituted a veritable treasure trove, and they continued to zealously ransack it at every available opportunity, in search of their fortunes.

And even small trucking services continued to stealthily dump garbage along the roadside in the cemetery, despite City Hall’s admonitions to keep away or face prosecution.

The next step was to work towards the ‘final closure’, which would see restoration of the site which once accommodated the landfill. Many of the residents dismissed this thought as wishful thinking, although they silently longed to be rid of the menacing putrid fumes and toxic gases wafting from the dump into their homes. Babies and asthmatic cases battled smoke inhalation whenever vagrants started fires at the site, and skin rashes and eczema outbreaks became common ailments affecting residents in those communities as they bemoaned the presence of an unwelcome neighbour they termed ‘a landfill overlooking the city’.

Final rites
The contract to close the site was awarded to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc., and except for a road construction component, it was executed over the three-month period from June to September, 2011. The scope of work entailed sealing the dumpsite with earth, and putting in several gas vents using 6” PVC pipes with filtering stone; making slopes and capping off the surface; intense drainage work, and removal of about 81 tonnes of waste dumped and accumulated on the shoulders of the (east-to-west) road, to be replaced on the dump site and covering over with clay. That particular component of the assignment involved reopening of cell number 2 to accommodate more garbage.
The old Broad Street had also to be completed by means of constructing about 450 metres of an emergency road (a portion of which was previously started) running east (Mandela Avenue) to west (Cemetery Road) in Le Repentir, and the sides of the condemned landfill had to be shaped, sloped, and subsequently maintained to stabilization level.
Work on the construction of the road was considerably impeded, postponed by heavy and prolonged rainfall, but it has restarted and is continuing apace.
Reflecting on the journey through the months – the challenges and the accomplishments — Managing Director of Puran Brothers, Mr. Kaleshwar Puran, breathed a sigh of relief; then, with an air of satisfaction, said: “It was not an easy task. At first it seemed unrealistic, but I think we came through and did it.”
Puran said the whole Le Repentir Landfill programme comprised three cells. The first was done initially through the Inter-American Development Bank. The second (cell No. 2) was done in 2009 by Puran Brothers, and the third cell (the final closure) was again done by Puran Brothers, and was executed in 2011.

Reactions
The Chronicle sought reaction from residents who were once exposed to the vagaries of living on the other side of Le Repentir Landfill. It was found that they were generally contented, deeply appreciative of the hard work entailed in covering up the mess and restoring health standards in the neighbourhood and the gift of the creation of a new ambience that is very pleasing to the eye.
They expressed joy at being rid of the nuisance of air pollution; the influx of flies and mosquitoes; the stench of the disturbed garbage; the odour of rotting carcases and burning tyres; the resultant respiratory diseases and skin and eye infections, among other ailments.
The residents of North East La Penitence are also calling for the huge overgrowth of palm bushes in the cemetery to be cleared, adding that it constitutes a haven for criminal activities.
That apart, when the Chronicle visited the new road being constructed (closer to Mandela Avenue), we were surprised to find several young people having a fun time, catching fish and otherwise enjoying the ambience of what they term the new golf court. For them, it was a place of much solace. The youth who once ran off a horse race on the track, said they are interested in holding gymkana sports there, and are awaiting City Hall’s final decision on this matter.