– $1.9 billion for sanitation

In 2020, the government inherited a lethargic system encouraged and practised by some Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) and in changing this outlook $ 263.2M has been earmarked for City Hall’s building renovation for the year.

The 2023 National Budget, totalling a massive $781.9 billion, was presented Monday by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh. According to him, works will also advance in Charity, Parika, Leonora and Mon Repos markets.

“Our government has long recognised that robust local government architecture and systems support more sustainable communities. In 2022, improved infrastructure in communities resulted in a total of $714 million being spent to support and enhance the Regional Development Programmes within the LDOs.”

According to the budget, the National Pathway Workers Project and the Community Enhancement Workers Programme were effectively introduced by the government in 2022, creating employment for over 12,000 people and enhancing the environment, sanitary conditions and infrastructure.

The government of Guyana plans to maintain its commitment to national pathway workers, community infrastructure and improvement projects, sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurial growth with an additional $13.5 billion budgeted.

According to the finance minister, the approaching local government elections will revitalise the local government system and serve as a reminder of the government’s commitment to good governance and transparency in every community.

SANITATION
Dr. Singh noted that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government has aggressively pursued implementing a solid waste management programme nationwide since assuming office. The finance minister claims that the programme has led to timely and secure trash disposal.

According to him, the operation and improvement of the Haags Bosh Sanitary Landfill Site and associated facilities in several communities, including Rose Hall, Belle Vue, Lethem and Lusignan, have been prioritised by the government.

In 2022, the senior minister noted that a total of $1.4 billion was spent towards solid waste management and the upgrading of solid waste infrastructure, including the completion of temporary locations for accepting waste at East Canje and Blairmont, closure of dumpsite at Babu John, the upgrading of existing disposal landfill sites at Corriverton.

He said further infrastructural development and operation of current and new landfill sites and solid waste clean-up programmes are all budgeted for this year with a total of $1.9 billion.

More specifically, plans are made for the Blairmont Waste Management Facility’s access road and bridge, and the closure of the landfills in Charity, Lima and D’Edward.

Additionally, the finance minister noted improvements in the building of stormwater ponds, installing a landfill gas management system at Haags Bosch and improvements to the landfill sites in Kildonan, Bon Success and Kara Kara.