MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker after a visit to the existing dump site three miles outside Mahdia, in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) last week Friday instructed that it be closed.

The instruction for the closure was after he had encountered a number of issues with regards to regulation and health.
The minister accompanied by Regional Chairman, Mr. Mark Crawford; Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Ronald Harsawack and other officials, including from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), indicated that his Ministry has adopted an approach to address the solid waste situation in all 10 administrative regions in Guyana.
He said presently the focus is on Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and its Haags Bosch location for the collection and disposal of garbage.
According to Whittaker, the Ministry has decided that with public/ private partnership it can deal with the solid waste collection, transportation and disposal in all the administrative regions.
The Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) do not have the resources that would allow them to do what is expected, he said, mentioning that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has guidelines regarding landfill sites and is presently working to have at least two in each Region by  January 1, 2013.
Whittaker explained that landfill is different from the traditional dump site, where dumping and burning is done. The landfill will see a new format in cells and the solid waste being thrown, covered and the process repeated until a cell is filled and another, new one begins the similar process, so that the idea of dumping garbage will be removed from citizens.
Positive response
The Ministry two months ago had advertised in the local newspapers for persons interested in solid waste management and there was a positive response from a number of people. They were engaged in meetings between the Ministry and stakeholders, to have a clear understanding on the Ministry interested personcompany guidelines of the intent of the project.
Whittaker said in some cases the interested parties, Ministry officials and other stakeholders had visited the sites to see the location, determination and implementation of the policies of the operation and guidelines set out by those in authority. This, he said, left the interested party with a clear picture after which questions and answers and recommendations were made and the stakeholder is knowledgeable of the operation thereafter.
He said, most of the Regions should, by January 1, 2013, have at least one solid waste site and the successful company will be in full operation as they have undertaken to provide the residents they will be serving with receptacles for the waste collection.
Once accepted, the price quoted by the interested party cannot be changed without the intervention of the Minister as, he said, if the service is effective and reliable and can suit the pocket of the residents, they will pay.
The NDCs will now continue to provide more services as regarding drainage etc for the citizens in their respective areas, already with such as Cevon’s Waste Management and Puran Brothers executing theirs reliably and affordably in Regions Four, Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica/Berbice).
In Mahdia, only one company has show interest and a site location and visit is expected with a proposal in two weeks time, Whittaker disclosed.