–to prevent serious health problems

WITH reduced collection of garbage in some quarters of the City, along with a somewhat irregular pick-up schedule being used by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), residents and businesses continue to dump on reserves and empty lots regardless of the health risks involved.

The M&CC is cognisant of the serious consequences associated with this practice and has already initiated an audit to determine just how many empty lots are in Georgetown, so that they can work with the owners to keep them clean.

Worrying, however, is the fact that should the M&CC come across a disputed lot that happens to be in court, there is little it can do to address the problems there.

“If the owners are not coming forward, we would have to take that responsibility because we want to secure the integrity of the environment and also the health of our citizens. In some cases, the owners even ask us to help and we would. If it’s a court matter, though, where the land is in dispute, it will be difficult and take us a long time to address,” Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle.

Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer Yonette Smith also lamented the dumping of garbage on empty lots.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT

Apart from the unsightliness that the practice creates, Smith spoke about leachate, which is a toxic liquid that emanates from the garbage and can consequently contaminate the groundwater supply of residents.

“When the garbage trucks pick up your garbage, you would notice there’s a liquid that comes out of it that we call leachate. It’s a toxic substance that is left in the ground when persons dump garbage and it can contaminate our water supply,” she expressed.

Furthermore, the site becomes an ideal environment for insects and rodents.

“We ask persons not to dump their garbage like this, because apart from polluting the ground water, there are insects and rodents that can end up in your home and they also can get persons sick.”

On this note, Lewis offered that after a time, rodents would tend to migrate from the vacant lots and begin invading the homes of residents in search of food.

“Rats spread leptospirosis and they urinate on your stuff. Although only a section of your bread may be bitten, the entire loaf could contain urine because wherever the rats eat, they urinate.

“You also have reptiles living in those lots because that’s a good hideout and dwelling place for them and they crawl out at nights looking for food and can harm persons passing by,” Lewis further pointed out.

She also referred to the increase in the mosquito population as a result of such dumping, along with the practice by criminal elements to use these locations to hide out and rob people.

KEEP CLEAN

“We’re asking all residents who own the vacant lots to weed them, have them fenced and try to keep them clean and clear from such accumulation. But some of the owners we cannot locate,” Smith observed.

She said although the officers are in the field trying to locate the owners, many times they do not get the full cooperation of those living nearby. Further, while the neighbours may know the owners are living overseas, they have no idea how they can be contacted.

“So we are getting a difficult time locating the owners. But we’re asking the owners themselves to come forward and to clean the lot of all bushes, weeds and long grass,” Smith said.

Lewis rejoined that if residents do happen to know the owners of these lots, then they should come forward and provide the information to the City Council so that action can be taken.

“Give us the lot number and their names so we can serve them with notices,” Lewis pleaded.

In the meantime, she noted that the M&CC would clean some of the lots and attach the costs to the owners who leave them unattended.

“Some business people continue to pay social rejects, and where will they throw it? They’re looking for the nearest abandoned lot to deposit the waste,” Lewis pointed out.

The M&CC has three environmental health officers and nine health assistants who are tasked with looking into this and many other issues in the City.