THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Tuesday signed a US$1.5M agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the Guyana Solid Waste Management Project.

The three-component project is being funded by the India/ Brazil/ South Africa (IBSA) Trust Fund, but is being implemented by the UNDP. It is aimed at the strengthening of Solid Waste Management in Guyana.
It will see the rehabilitation of the six municipal markets in Georgetown, Anna Regina, Rosehall, Linden, Corriverton and New Amsterdam.  It will also see the placement of washroom facilities at the newly constructed market tarmacs to further facilitate and encourage vendors to utilise them for vending purposes rather than occupying the road corners and pavements.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker highlighted that solid waste became a huge problem after the development of road side vending.
The project also has a public awareness component, which will seek to encourage and educate citizens on environmental friendly practices relating to solid waste management. This will be done through a variety of means, including ads, flyers, brochures and other such attributes.
Two compactor trucks and semi excavators will also be purchased to aid in garbage collection and dumping at the Haags Bosch landfill site aback of Eccles.
The minister also noted that under this project, a board will be developed to oversee the project. This board will consist of eight representatives from the ministries including Health, Agriculture and Finance.
Among the gathering at the ceremony were Indian High Commissioner to Guyana (ag) Mr Tirath Singh; Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Guilberto Seixas De Andrade; UNDP’s Resident Coordinator for Guyana Khadija Musa; and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Collin Croal,  among other staff members of the Ministry and the UNDP.

(GINA)