A MASSIVE clean-up campaign initiated by the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) a few weeks ago will continue with Water Street being targeted on Sunday.In an invited comment, M&CC Solid Waste Director Walter Narine, explained to this publication that the initiative has thus far recorded “tremendous success.”
He said the present focus is on commercial areas, given that most of the improper solid-waste disposal issues arise in those areas.

He said Regent Street, which primarily facilitates businesses, has been the primary location where most of the work has been done; but work has also been done in Robb and Water streets since the start of the project.

With Bourda Market already cleaned, Narine said the team has continued working along Regent Street, but has stopped at Cummings Street. Work was, on Wednesday, also done along North Road and at the La Penitence Market, which is desperately in need of sanitation work.

On Sunday, the team will commence cleaning Water Street from Guyana Stores Limited to the popular Ice House, situated a few corners away.

Narine boasted that the support from corporate Guyana has thus far been “tremendous,” since all are benefitting from this exercise.
He mentioned that the owners of a popular Chinese store on Regent Street willingly demolished an illegal structure they had erected, and other business owners have also responded in like manner.

The Solid Waste Director further revealed that an introductory environmental tax of $1000 will be levied on vendors to aid in the preservation of a clean environment. He said the Council adopted this strategy to facilitate the cost to routinely clean these commercial areas. This cleaning will be done daily.

He was eager to add that introduction of this tax was greeted positively by the vendors, who have expressed intention to comply. “Not a single person has objected or said no to the introduction of this tax,” Narine disclosed. This move will, however, be short-lived because the vendors will soon be relocated to a permanent operating area.

Furthermore, he noted that if support is not received from the vendors in relation to the cleaning, they will be given an invitation which, if not complied with, will result in them being temporarily suspended from operating their stalls at their traditional location.

Upon the successful completion of these highly-commercialised areas, the target will then be community-based areas.

“Subsequent to this [cleaning of commercial areas], we will then commence work on the domestic areas. In fact, we have started working in Agricola, and we will continue this,” Narine disclosed.

In an effort to preserve the sanctity of the environment, Narine said the exercise will be maintained through monthly cleaning of communities, which will be spearheaded by City Hall. (Ravin Singh)