COMMISSIONER of Inquiry into the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Mr. Keith Burrowes, who is also in charge of implementing corrective measures, said, Thursday, that the growing issue of garbage pile-up around the capital has reached a level of extreme frustration.
Speaking at a press conference, in the Ministry of Local Government, he said: “It has reached a level where I’m extremely fed up. We have, over a couple weeks ago, worked out some strategies with the City Council. We were able to help with the garbage problem but it’s back where we started.”
Burrowes said that, while several agreements were arrived at and steps were taken, the situation is back to square one.
He declared it is a shame on the country’s behalf, since visitors are welcomed to such an unpleasant smell and look.
“People who have families coming in to Guyana would be totally embarrassed at the situation,” said he.
Burrowes pointed out that, in some cases, vehicles were given to the Council to assist with the removal of garbage from households and businesses.
He added that, with the help of a few businessmen around the city, bobcats, trucks and other equipment were loaned to the Council to provide further assistance with the cleaning and he thanked those who did the lending, through which the exercise started and bore some fruit.

Improper disposal
Burrowes said, under his leadership several projects were initiated and persons have since been arrested for improper disposal.
He disclosed that the next stage would have been to distribute jerseys to about 30 persons, the idea behind it being for them to see who are throwing the garbage “because we really want to catch some of these men and so they are enforcers so to speak.”
He said, already, several persons were arrested in that process and ongoing talks with the Local Government Ministry will see penalties being put into place to deal with them.
But he expressed dimmed hope at the progress that has been made at some points, noting that, after every step is accomplished, it seems the situation heads two steps backwards.
Burrowes said he believes that, unless drastic actions are taken, this situation will always be the same in Guyana.
However, he said:“I hope that we could find ways in dealing with this, as I said over and over, my committee is getting frustrated.”