THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, with Cabinet approval, has contracted private companies to collect and dispose domestic and commercial solid waste, throughout the country.

But it has stirred controversy in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), where BOBCAT and Advanced Environmental Solutions have been tasked with managing solid waste in all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Municipalities.
Despite the increasing successes of the new implementation, Mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. Claude Henry posited that the introduction of a private garbage collector in the town is an added burden on low income households and a flagrant attempt to usurp the duties of the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC).
“We, the M&TC were never consulted. This thing (private garbage collection) was thrown into our faces to accept and we, as a team, must now stand up for what we believe (is right). The M&TC has been collecting solid waste for free. If people can’t afford to pay $300 per barrel to a private collector, they will, definitely litter the road shoulders and dump garbage on empty plots of land in the town,” he warned during a municipal budget presentation in the Council Chamber, recently.

Henry admitted that he is unaware if there have been amendments to the law as it relates to solid waste management and remained adamant that the M&TC is solely authorised to collect and dispose of solid waste and will continue to do so, until they are aware of changes to the legislation.
“They (RDC) cannot bring a contractor who is taking money from citizens and the Council to dispose of solid waste. They want us to pay $1,600 per ton for our (M&TC) garbage, while ignoring that we have our own fleet of tractors, garbage collectors and persons working in our sanitary department. What will we do with them?” he asked rhetorically.

ALLOW CHANGES
Henry, vehemently, stated that the M&TC will not sit and allow changes to be made in the municipality without their consultation.
“The last thing they came to us with, is that we must close our dumpsite (in New Amsterdam) and on the other hand, the landfill site at Belle Vue, East Bank, Berbice, is yet to be completed. They must know that their private contractor still uses our dumpsite. So, we must allow good sense to prevail,” he said.
In an invited reaction, Regional Chairman Mr. Permaul Armogan reiterated that the private garbage collection system was not the brainchild of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) but, rather, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, which programmes are aimed at assisting municipalities and NDCs.
“I see no reason for the M&TC to become upset. This is a way forward in enhancing solid waste management and we should all embrace this initiative of the Ministry of Local Government and collaborate for progress,” he encouraged.
Armogan pointed out that the main drains and road shoulders in the township have become the new dumping zones and no one has been able to come up with a solution to combat the indiscriminate act by some deviants.
“We have seen the trend of wanton garbage disposal in recent years and it became an eyesore and a serious health issue. I think we should all support this new garbage collection drive and restore pride and cleanliness in our community,” he urged.

(By Michael Khan)