LOCAL Government Minister Norman Whittaker, yesterday, congratulated the Kingston West Progressive Youth Organisation for seeking to play its part in cleaning up the city.The group, in addition to sprucing up the area in the vicinity of the Kingston seawall band stand, working along with the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), was able to procure 12 barrels to be placed at strategic locations along the Kingston seawall band stand route.
The barrels were yesterday handed over to the Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba in the presence of Minister Whittaker, who noted Government and the City’s appreciation for the group’s effort. “For some it may be considered small, but I want to let you know that it is meaningful and it is significant,” he told the group.
“It is coming at a time when Guyanese are increasingly expressing concern about the environmental situation across our country and more specifically in the metropolis Georgetown,” the minister said.
The Local Government Minister expressed the hope that the group’s bold step would encourage others to look for and implement similar initiatives aimed at cleaning up Georgetown, and by extension Guyana.
He noted too, that GEA has always been active in working with the Local Government Ministry in helping to improve the environment and called on other agencies to come on board.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Sooba who expressed the Town Council’s gratitude to the group, and also expressed hope for similar gestures from other groups and organisations toward making Georgetown a healthier place for Guyanese to work and live.
The support is also part of the group’s commemoration of World Environmental Day, celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness of the need to protect the nature and the planet.