UNDER the ‘Clean-up My Country’ Programme, garbage collection vehicles of the Mayor and City Council are being repaired with the understanding that the Council will take on the rightful task of sustaining the improved aesthetics and sanitation of Georgetown, by being more efficient and playing a more proactive role with the city’s Solid Waste Programme.

Under the Georgetown aspect of the “Clean-up My Country” programme, the Council was asked to submit a priority list of garbage collection vehicles which require repairs.
In addition, the Council was asked to present a maintenance and usage programme schedule to ensure that the repaired equipment will be fully optimized in 2015.
TRUCK HANDED OVER
According to a media release from the ministry, one truck was completely rehabilitated and handed over to the acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba on behalf of the Council.
Primarily, most of the repairs on the vehicle were electrical in nature which included repairs to the compactor cycle, the hydraulic system, removing the rear light assembly from the lower bottom of the back of the truck to the upper portion

of the back of the truck.
One major problem which affected the truck was the heavy infestation of rodents and due to the truck not been washed regularly the electrical wiring of the truck was damaged.
While it is noted that the position of the lights at the back of the truck was designed that way, they were subject to frequent breakage due to handling of garbage receptacles in close proximity to the lights.
ATTEMPT AT SABOTAGE
The release also said that Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker candidly expressed the fear he feels and those of others that there is an attempt to sabotage the effort undertaken by the Ministry to assist the Council in keeping the city clean.
He said further that there is concern over measures being put in place to prevent the garbage collection equipment from becoming fully operational to aid in the effective collection and transporting of solid waste accumulated in the capital city.
Minister Whittaker called on Sooba “to remain focused and be on the lookout for the “saboteurs” who are there to undermine the works of the Ministry.”
He also asked her “to make every effort to ensure that the work the Ministry sets out to do is accomplished.”
He further stated that, “the desire to fix some of the garbage collection vehicles will play an integral role in sustaining the development.  This truck is the first part of our effort to strengthen the M&CC capacity.”
Minister Whittaker concluded that it is the expectation that the council will appreciate the Ministry’s efforts as well as the inputs of the Town Clerk who made it possible for the vehicles to be repaired in spite of the challenges.
He then pledged his commitment to repair more of the council’s garbage collection vehicles which will be used to sustain the City’s Clean-up Programme. (Savitri Laikram)