THERE is nothing more pleasing to the eye than a clean and well-organised environment. Georgetown, once described as the ‘Garden City,’ was allowed to deteriorate under the PNC-dominated City Council over the several decades to a point where the city became a ‘garbage city.’ For much of the post-independence period, the city wore a depressing look: clogged drains filled with litter and garbage; buildings in need of rehabilitation and re-painting; flooded streets and piles of garbage all over the place. The stench emanating from garbage build-up and stagnant drains was unbearable especially when it rains. Not even the iconic City Hall was spared the neglect.

Yet, the beauty and magnificence of the city were never in doubt. Georgetown still remains one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean with its varied mix of colonial architecture, indicative of its former colonial status and heritage. The influence of European architecture is still very much in evidence, which gives the city its unique and distinctive character.

It is a lasting shame on the City Council and the PNC administration that the capital city of Georgetown and its beautiful architecture were allowed to run down to the state that it has currently found itself in. The blame rests squarely on the PNC-dominated Mayor and City Council, which, over the decades had mismanaged the affairs of the council to a point where it was unable to pay its wages and other bills, not to mention its ability to effect the barest minimum of rehabilitation works to the city’s infrastructure.

It was not until the return of the PPP/C to office on October 5, 1992, that an effort was made to reverse the decline of the city by way of financial subventions and several other interventions in terms of road repairs, drainage and garbage disposal among others. The impact of these interventions were, however, not fully optimised due to an entrenched culture of mismanagement and extravagance by the council, which sadly continues until this day.

With the election to office of the PPP/C in March 2020, a renewed effort was made to bring back the city to its former glory. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in his New Year message, announced that his administration intends to lead a national resurgence of sustained public cleanliness that promotes environmental health across the country and the restoration of national pride. In keeping with that commitment, several interventions were made to clean up and beautify the City of Georgetown, including the current ‘Operation Clean-up’ which commenced over the Christmas holidays and is now picking up momentum. The exercise is a collaborative effort between the Joint Services and the private sector with support from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. The campaign will result in heightened activities involving senior government officials across the wards of Georgetown. Technical and manpower support are being provided by the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force and other government agencies.

The inter-agency collaboration with strong inputs from the private sector is exactly what the city needs at this time, given the advanced state of decay and neglect by the City Council. One would have thought that such an intervention would be embraced by the mayor with open arms, but from all indications there appears to be a sense of resentment by Mayor Ubraj Narine who reportedly called on citizens of Georgetown not to cooperate with the clean-up operation. In fact, the mayor has called for a ‘boycott’ of the city clean-up during a recent press conference hosted by PNC Leader Aubrey Norton.

This is indeed mind-boggling. Why would the cash-strapped City Council object to such an exercise? Is it because of the stance taken by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in the protection of the democratic rights of the Guyanese electorate in the last General and Regional Elections when attempts were made by the APNU+AFC Coalition to derail the democratic process? Whatever the reason, it does send out some disturbing signals to the wider populace regarding the seriousness and commitment of the current Mayor and City Council to improve the image of the city and its environs.

President Ali and his PPP/C administration must be given full credit for coming to the rescue of the city. The current restoration works on the City Hall, coupled with the several attempts to beautify the city, are manifestations of a President who cares for the aesthetics, health and well-being of the citizens of Georgetown. This is expected to be replicated in several other parts of the country and as the country becomes more financially consolidated, Guyanese can expect a much cleaner and environmentally friendly environment.

In the case of Georgetown, even though the President has given full commitment to restoration works, the city and the welfare of its citizens, he made it clear that the PPP/C administration will not allow itself to be used as a ‘scapegoat’ for the failure of the City Council to do its work and to live up to its responsibility and mandate. ‘Let me be very clear, this government cares tremendously about our city, but we will not allow ourselves to be used as a scapegoat in the city not fulfilling its responsibility and mandate or in the city converting everything into political opportunism or a political football,’ the President said.

President Ali had reiterated earlier that whilst the city is not fulfilling its responsibilities in maintenance of the environment and its infrastructure and the cleaning of drainage, central government has embarked on a massive programme to clean the city, to clean and maintain the roadways, establish roundabouts and maintain drainage systems.

Citizens, it must be emphasised, also have a role to play in this regard. The call by President Ali for everyone throughout the length and breadth of the country to come on board cannot be more timely and relevant.