UNDER the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme, residents of Region 3, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara are being given an opportunity to dispose of their bulk waste in an environmentally friendly manner and by extension have their communities cleaned, since illegal garbage piles are being removed.

Just recently, during a site visit on the West Coast of Demerara, Mr. Bramhanand Singh, Special Projects Officer of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLG&RD) who is overseeing the Regional Community Clean-Up and Bulk Waste Removal exercise, said that the exercise is moving ahead except that it is very time-consuming when it comes to transporting and disposing of debris.
Singh explained that due to this uncontrollable element, the teams are forced to repeat the service in several areas since residents are responding well to the pick-up service.
According to Singh, Vreed-en-Hoop was scheduled for community clean-up and bulk waste removal on Thursday, 4 December, 2014. However, due to the high commercial activities and heavy flow of traffic in the community, the team has opted to extend the sanitation and aesthetics improvement programme to Sunday, December 7, 2014. The ministry’s representative also expressed great concern over the numerous piles of both domestic and commercial garbage piles his teams are encountering. Singh pointed out that there is one such pile in the heart of the commercial area in Vreed-en-Hoop; based on his estimation, that pile is in excess of 12 truckloads.

The Bulk Waste Removal Programme commenced on Monday, December 1, 2014 and is expected to be completed on Sunday, December 7, 2014. All communities within the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils of Mora/Parika to Toevlugt/Patentia, as well as Wakenaam and Leguan, have been targeted for the Regional Clean-Up Programme.
When asked to make a comparison of the waste carted away from Regions 4, 5 and 6, Singh said, “The volume of bulk waste collected in Region No. 3 is far less than that collected in Regions No. 4, 5 and 6 thus far. He pointed out that in some areas, as in the case of Zeelugt, two trucks are operating in the community to remove numerous garbage piles which are scattered along roadsides and the shoulders of waterways.
In an invited comment, the Regional Chairman, Region No 3, Mr. Julius Faerber on behalf of the citizens of Essequibo Islands/West Demerara said, “We are very thankful that the Government has put aside some money to clean up our region.” According to the regional chairman, “Persons are very happy and the exercise is welcomed by the residents since the service provides an avenue for them to get rid of bulk waste free of cost; many persons cannot afford to pay the private disposal service to dispose of the bulk waste.”
The chairman has expressed concern over the number of garbage piles in communities and deems this as “very unsightly.” Julius Faerber said that the region has begun to prosecute persons who are found dumping in public spaces. In addition, the Regional Democratic Council has mounted “no-dumping signs” in several hot spots across the 14 NDCs in the region. The chairman is calling on residents and business owners “to desist from dumping” along the roads, streets and into waterways.
The next administrative region to benefit from this Government of Guyana initiative is Region No. 2, Pomeroon/Supenaam from Monday December 8, 2014 to Sunday December 14, 2014.