UNDER the “Regional Clean-Up” programme, several projects will be implemented which will complement the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s (MLGRD) Regional Solid Waste Programme.   

The regional clean-up programme includes construction and upgrading of access roads to landfill sites; garbage disposal and removal of household bulk waste; procurement of large fogging machines; equipment and machinery for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs); and procurement of large solid-waste receptacles for public spaces and garbage bags for households.

According to a media release issued by the Ministry, Permanent Secretary of the MLGRD Collin Croal said at the ministry’s recently held press conference, “The Regional Clean-Up Programme will not take on the same shape [form] as the ‘Georgetown Clean-Up Programme.”

Instead, the ministry’s programme entails removal of roadside garbage, illegal dumpsites, bulk waste and derelicts (including vehicles) within the local authorities’ areas by means of a one-off pick-up exercise. In addition, procuring machinery for maintenance works within the regions and construction of access roads to landfill sites (to aid in the Ministry’s Regional Solid Waste Programme) are aimed at strengthening the capacity of local authorities.

Construction and upgrading of access roads to landfill sites in Regions 1, 3, 5, 6 & 7 have been budgeted for. For Regions Nos. 1 & 5, these will be re-tendered shortly after the revision of the scope of works.

This is necessary since in the initial tendering process, all of the bids were over the budgetary allocation.  For Region No. 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing the application to operate a landfill site. For Region No. 6, Associated Construction Services won the tender and has signed the contract for construction of the access road to the landfill site in Belle Vue.

According to the release, work is expected to commence in a week’s time. For Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), following a visit by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker the Ministry through the Government of Guyana has committed to providing assistance to the solid waste contractor at Bartica for the construction of the access road to the landfill site. Currently, the ministry is awaiting a proposal from the contractor outlining his plans for development of the landfill site.

Another focus of the “Regional Clean-Up” is general removal of garbage and derelicts (including vehicles) within communities. For this component, local authorities (NDCs and municipalities) were asked to submit proposals to the ministry for garbage removal within their localities. Arising from the proposals are several areas in various communities where residents, and for the most part primarily business owners are using public spaces to dump their waste. Through this clean-up activity, all illegal piles will be cleared and disposed of at official landfills within the respective regions.

As a follow-up from discussions with the Ministry of Health in examining the increasing number of persons being diagnosed with Chikungunya, Whittaker announced that the “Regional clean-up” will also provide a one-off free-of-cost bulk waste pick- up service across the regions, which is expected to have long- term benefits at the community level, as well as an aggregated impact. The bulk waste pick-up will commence in Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica).

Unlike the Georgetown Clean-up Programme, drainage and de-bushing of cemeteries will not be addressed under this regional programme, since such activities will be addressed through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP) under the Ministry of Housing and Water.

The press release added that other components of the Regional Clean-Up Programme include the procurement of 45 tractors and trailers for NDCs; five mini-excavators for the hinterland regions with a focus within local authorities; 130 skip metal bins which will be distributed to the markets and public spaces; a number of metal barrels for domestic waste and procurement of garbage bags for household distribution.

Eleven fogging machines have been procured at the total cost of G$4.63M and handed over to all RDCs and City Hall to aid in their fogging programme.

While Regions 5 and 6 have continuous programmes, both Regions 1 and 3 have commenced their fogging programmes as a result of receiving fogging machines.

Under the Government of Guyana “Clean Up My Country” Programme, G$1B has been allocated to the restoration of the aesthetics and improvement of sanitation of Guyana. G$500M was allocated to the Georgetown Clean-Up Programme with the other G$500M for the Regional Clean-Up Programme.