ALBERTTOWN residents were greeted early last Thursday morning by an unfamiliar sight as community clean-up works for the Central Georgetown neighbourhood began. 

Coming on the wings of the Georgetown Clean-Up campaign, the Local Government Ministry recently contracted for works to be done in the community. Concerned residents swiftly mobilised as a group and approached the ministry.
The ministry then contracted the group to complete the Alberttown works in two blocs. “The Alberttown area is located from Lamaha Street to Church Street, [and from] Cummings Street to Albert Street,” according to James Vanderhyden, Leader of the Community Development Group currently undertaking drainage works in Alberttown.
With an expected team of 50, Vanderhyden remains positive that based on the time factor of between 20 to 30 days, his team will complete all works by the end of November. “The group is strictly from Alberttown and we all came together as the good Samaritans,” Vanderhyden said, when asked how the workers were organised.
All team members are confirmed to be from the Alberttown area. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development through the ‘Clean-Up My Country’ Programme and through community consultations informed residents throughout that the ministry will be working along with organised labourers coming from the community where the works are being done.

SENSE OF PRIDE
This was aimed at ensuring that the $1B project creates employment in the various communities and at the same time encourages residents to take pride in their immediate environment.
Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker in recent times underscored that while the bulk of the clean-up project had been limited to major works such as de-silting major canals, cemetery rehabilitation and improving the capacity of NDCs, “there are other works that need to be done – internal drains, alleyways and vegetation… [And] we want to involve the people in the community in doing it.”
Through organised groups, Whittaker said, sources of revenue will be provided to the community volunteers so that they “can feel a sense of pride that you are involved in the clean-up of your own community.”
Commenting on how this system will be monitored, he disclosed that a Clerk of Works at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development would be employed with direct oversight responsibility over community groups utilising funds for environmental upkeep.