THE recently launched clean-up campaign aimed at beautifying Guyana in time for the country’s 55th Independence Anniversary on May 26, is intended to be citizen-driven, as opposed to being financed by the government. In an invited comment on Monday, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill explained that the efforts to clean up the country is expected to be executed primarily by the citizens of Guyana. “We have to revive the spirit of patriotism and national pride,” Edghill said.
He explained that since a stakeholder engagement last Friday, parties have all decided to assist in mobilising individuals, groups, and communities to clean up and beautify their own surroundings. “You see, this is a different approach as against the government just calling contractors and saying, ‘Go and clean up,’” the Public Works Minister told the Guyana Chronicle. He said that the government employing independent contractors to clean up the entire country would defeat the whole purpose of getting persons, families and communities involved. “If the government go and call contractors for them to clean up, then that is not a nationwide clean-up; a nationwide clean-up is when the citizens are involved, taking pride in cleaning up their area, beautifying the area, putting up flags and all the rest of it,” Edghill expounded.

He said that even though the government will be lending critical support, and employing persons to execute some amount of the clean-up work, it expects citizens to play their part. The minister noted that so far, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), various religious organisations, and private sector bodies have been successful in mobilising support to execute the initiative. “Everybody is mobilising among themselves to take action; over the weekend, that is what has been taking place,” Edghill noted. He said that communities and villages all across the country can come up with innovate ways of boosting morale and encouraging residents to participate in the exercise. “For example, in Region Two, they will be doing a ‘Best Village’ competition, where they will be judging the best village,” the minister said.
Minister Edghill, who is a clergyman, also underscored the importance of religious organisations in influencing positive behaviours that align with the global saying, ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’. “A religious organisation could go and paint a bridge, or paint a pedestrian crossing; put up flags through a street,” Edghill said.
He noted, too, that religious organisations can capitalise on their unique ability to mobilise support, which will pave the way for communities to come out and participate in the noble exercise to beautify their environment.

“We want to develop this into a movement,” Minister Edghill said, adding: “We just have to keep out there and don’t let it die. The Ministry of Public Works had said in a press release that its Independence programme has managed to garner the support of local authorities, private-sector bodies, religious organisations, non-governmental organisations, and citizens all across the country. Some aspects of the programme to improve the aesthetics of communities, include but are not limited to, the cleaning of parapets and drains; cleaning of shorelines, sea and river defences; flagging and decorating of light poles; erection of motivational banners, painting of community bridges; cleaning and painting of community open spaces; painting of pedestrian crossings; enhancement of bus stops and surroundings.
The discussion also resulted in the emergence of novel ideas such as the erection of decorative frames nationwide, so that persons can take ‘selfies’ to showcase Guyana’s independence on various social media platforms. Bumper stickers, which are already produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Communications Taskforce, with messages of patriotism will also be encouraged. Communities and organisations interested in being part of this initiative can contact the Ministry of Public Works for more information on 231-8127 or 231-8128.