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In an article, ‘City Constabulary to commence Christmas Security System’ (Kaieteur News Nov. 20), Deputy Chief Constable (ag) Trevor Merriman assures the public that, “We will be on the lookout for the petty criminal activities that normally take place during this time”. Although this is commendable and comforting news to Christmas shoppers, as it provides added protection against choke & rob, pick pocketing and purse snatchers, this should not be the primary concern of the City Constabulary.
The Guyana Police Force is already on high alert to deal with crimes of opportunity. City Hall needs to focus its efforts on cleaning up the garbage in the City, and ensure the safety of pedestrians by moving vendors off the streets and sidewalks to allow the smooth flow of vehicular traffic in heavily populated shopping areas, especially in the vicinity of Stabroek Market.
One way to do this, is to temporarily relocate vendors to the sparsely used Parade Ground during the Christmas season, until a more permanent location can be identified. Order needs to be restored to preserve what’s left of the once known ‘Garden City of the Caribbean.” Give the sidewalks back to the pedestrians and the streets to vehicular traffic, and stop this chaotic trafficking in Georgetown.
But it is the apparent lack of importance and urgency by City Hall to the ongoing garbage crisis in Georgetown that bothers me profoundly. For, according to this article, “On the issue of pollution and littering, Merriman told Kaieteur News that the constabulary has forever been tackling the issue, but for the season it intends to intensify the fight against indiscriminate dumping and littering”. Did he say indiscriminate dumping and littering? Is this a joke? Is it okay to litter and dump garbage in the streets of Georgetown as long as it’s not done in an “indiscriminate” way?
I challenge City Hall to adopt a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to polluting and polluters, and help restore the pride we once had in our beautiful city.
Editor, although I have seen some progress during my last visit to Guyana, Georgetown is still disgracefully polluted with garbage. The canal in front of City Hall is filthy and blocked; a drain on the western side of Parliament Building is a regular dumping ground for the vendors that sell there, and I have the photographs to prove it. Simply putting a band-aid on the garbage problem is not good enough. I am convinced that City Hall is incapable of resolving this crisis on its own, and it cries out for urgent government leadership to prevent an imminent outbreak of a national epidemic. With so many drains and waterways blocked by overgrowth and garbage, flooding is prevalent with heavy rainfall. Flood waters are the perfect conduit to spread dysentery and typhoid. The spread of malaria is a frightful reality as stagnant waters provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Garbage dumps also provide refuse for rats and cockroaches. In the national interest, government must take the initiative and form a coalition with City Hall; concerned groups; organisations; and the private sector to bring an end to this chronic health hazard in our society. If allowed to continue, this unsightliness will also impede the development of tourism, and crush any effort by government to promote Guyana as the perfect venue for the hosting of regional conferences/meetings/seminars.
Recently, staffers from the U.S. embassy and members of the PYO have been very active, volunteering time and equipment to help bring awareness to the ‘Pick it up Guyana’ campaign. How much more embarrassing can this be? Is it that Guyanese have grown accustomed to littering for so long that it now becomes the norm? To some this may be so, but to many others, including tourists and members of foreign missions here, this is nothing more than nastiness. It’s as simple as that.
Guyanese must take responsibility for keeping the city and their surroundings clean. This culture of littering is out of control and must be stopped. In New York, the fine for littering is US$350 (G$70,000) and I can assure you, Guyanese don’t litter the streets of New York. The penalty is too severe and not worth the risk.
Adopting a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to littering is the only solution. Fines must be drastically increased and rigidly enforced. Individuals found guilty of littering, should pay a fine of no less than G$10,000 with a mandatory eight hours of community service, cleaning the streets and playgrounds.
Perpetrators of commercial littering should be fined no less than G$20,000. If a business receives three such violations within a year, their business licence should be suspended and a hefty fine imposed. Stiff penalties will serve as an effective deterrent. Hit the polluters where they will feel it the most… in their pockets.
City Hall needs to issue notices to owners of abandoned/derelict buildings to have them demolished. These buildings are not only potential fire hazards and unsightly, but they are often used by criminals, drug addicts, gamblers and the homeless. In cases where the owners cannot be located, a provision in the law must allow for government to undertake the cost of demolition, and a lien be placed on the land to recover the cost. I am confident that the joint opposition will support appropriate amendments to existing laws to bring this to fruition.
I am aware that persons employed by City Hall to clean the drains and sidewalks in the city, exploit store owners for ‘a small piece’ before the drains in front of their stores are cleaned. There is also an ongoing racket among the Constabulary Police to extort money from illegal roadside vendors to allow them to ply their trade with impunity. Intensifying efforts during the holiday season must not result in a Christmas bonus for the corrupt Constabulary police. There is need for a sting operation to catch, prosecute and get rid of these vultures who prey on hard-working citizens. These are the culprits that are giving government a bad name. Let them find other means of employment where they cannot solicit bribes.
