Dear Editor,
I AM personally terrified about the future of Guyana with regard to its garbage disposal. While we have moved ahead with greater efforts to ensure better garbage collection, the disposal aspect is still lacking keen attention. The environmental effects of garbage on our environment are voluminous; the waste that ends up in our water will affect all ecosystems existing in the water. Sadly, this can go on to harm animals who drink this polluted water and poison us as we drink and use this water daily and as we consume their flesh. Even further, the hazardous chemicals from the garbage that get into the soil can harm plants when they take up the contamination from their roots. Sad to say, we have continuously jeopardised our health by eating these plants that are from polluted soils. I would like to advise the City and Central Government to consider investing in a biogas digester which would turn our garbage into energy. If not, a foreign investor or the private sector can be brought in to form a partnership. While biogas is used all over the world — India for example has more than 4.5 million digesters – harnessing biogas energy in South Africa is practically unknown. Only a small number of digesters have been built successfully and commissioned to date – a loss to the renewable industry sector in the country, since biogas fulfils all of the criteria relating to environmental sustainability, requires a relatively low technological input and is cost-effective to implement.
I also strongly suggest a clampdown on all persons, even businesses that light fires to burn grass, household materials, vegetable waste, shrubs and trees. This usually creates huge clouds of black smoke that poison the atmosphere and affect those Guyanese citizens diagnosed with asthma. There was a time when fires were lit at La Repentir Cemetery dumpsite and tens of thousands of people added to the thousands already affected, started to suffer from asthma, hypertension and mental ailments. This needs to be completely eliminated! The laws of our country need to be enforced and the lawlessness must be end!
The Botanical Gardens can recycle its waste products of leaves and grass, converting them into compost and then even packaging and marketing it to our local market, Caribbean partners and international traders for sale. Then they can educate persons on how they can engage in personal use of compost. Our youths can become involved in this avenue and use it as a business venture. Youth groups such as the Youth Challenge and Come Alive Network (CANI) can turn this into an activity for young people who have a vested interest in the environment. This will not only help to eliminate our garbage in a safe manner, but it will add to the economic viability of our youth and entrepreneurs. Waste products gathered at our market places such as vegetables, fruits and provisions can be gathered for compost; whether for personal use and/or marketing.
Disposal of Lead and Hazardous Waste
This is an international problem which has caused grave contamination of water resources and pollution of lakes and rivers in the United States, Russia, Europe, and China and around the world. In the case of Guyana, the batteries from our motor vehicles, torch lights, radios, clocks, cellphones (containing uranium) and sensitive etc., when dumped as regular garbage can be transferred into the water system and poison it, causing deleterious impact on the mental well-being of Guyanese.
In the opinion of the undersigned, people in Guyana and around the world are suffering from increased stress and I believe this is due in part, to our contaminated water. This has caused persons to lose control over their anger and depression, causing an inability to concentrate. The impacts are countless!
Again, as part of the Government’s ‘Go Green’ Campaign, awareness should be given to how we dispose of garbage which contains lead and other disastrous elements. The undersigned recommends that a unity event be held and Guyanese from all sectors of society can come free of cost and dispose of these batteries and demonstrations can be given on how to do so. The Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, City Hall and the Opposition office can do much good in alienating the improper disposal of garbage, which have negative effects on us and the environment.
I, Roshan Khan, am willing to give my support to any movement or group that is advocating for the sustainable future of Guyana; I advise you my fellow Guyanese once again, let us become conscious of the environment and the future we wish to leave for the generations that follow.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Roshan Khan.
CEO/Chairman/Founder
RK’s Guyana Security Services