A HEATED exchange arose yesterday at City Hall as to why members of its Public Health Department were not included in a meeting with Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on the current deplorable state of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site.For some time now, the site, aback Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been in a state of disorder, prompting Town Clerk Royston King to advise that it is spiralling into a “public health crisis”.

King was reporting on the meeting with the minister during the Council’s fortnightly statutory meeting, and his remark prompted Councillor Ian Andrews to question if any public health officers of the council were included in the discussion.

King responded that although a team from the Ministry of Public Health was present, the Council’s public health officers were not there.

This sparked outrage from Councillor Devi Ross, who stood up to voice her disapproval that those officers were not invited.

“They are isolating the Public Health Department,” she shouted. She opined that this represents the number one department of the Council, especially in view of the many health issues affecting citizens.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green responded that she was confused as to why councillors were questioning the issue when they were the same ones who had initially said it was not necessary that a large delegation attend the meeting.

Chase-Green argued that the Council worked assiduously under the former administration to prevent an outbreak of any kind, although no money was granted the municipality.

Meanwhile, King informed that a major challenge had to do with litter-pickers, who have been blocking the road daily, preventing garbage disposal trucks from accessing Haags Bosch Landfill.

The police have since been called in, and this situation is somewhat under control.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Mayor told the Chronicle that the Government recently gave the City Council $100M to completely close off the old dump site in Le Renentir Cemetery and to assist with works at Haags Bosch.

A new cell has since been opened.