THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development are ramping up efforts to confront the growing issue of littering and environmental pollution, signalling a more coordinated and enforcement-driven approach nationwide.
This follows a high-level engagement between the EPA and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, where both sides aligned on strategies to tackle improper waste disposal more aggressively.
According to a release from the ministry, discussions focused on a unified national response that blends public education with stricter enforcement.
“Discussions centred on a coordinated national approach, including intensified public education, strengthened enforcement mechanisms, and the implementation of practical measures to more aggressively combat improper waste disposal,” the Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The initiative builds on recent engagements between the Ministry and the Guyana Police Force, where attention was placed on bolstering enforcement capabilities. As part of that push, authorities will leverage the Smart City surveillance camera system to identify individuals caught littering.
Officials also examined existing laws and enforcement pathways to ensure that offenders are not only identified but successfully prosecuted.
The EPA delegation included Head of the Investigations and Enforcement Department, Surjpaul Singh; Senior Environmental Officer (Communications) and Litter Prevention Strategy Coordinator, Jomo Tobin; and Environmental Officer and Litter Enforcement Unit Lead, Tethram Persaud. Both agencies have committed to a results-driven framework that integrates enforcement, public awareness, and inter-agency collaboration.
“Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to a unified and results-driven approach to tackling littering, recognising the importance of enforcement, public awareness, and inter-agency collaboration in maintaining a cleaner, healthier environment for all citizens,” the ministry noted.
