After reports that the Mandela landfill site was on fire, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown responded yesterday via a press release that unconfirmed reports suggest the landfill was deliberately set alight by unknown persons.
Deeming the act a “malevolent” one that aims to compromise the work of the municipality, the body said that they are doing everything in their capacity to address the situation. The Council noted that the fire service was summoned and a fire tender was deployed immediately. Also, the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) loaned the municipality two pumps to help bring the situation under control. The Council said that they are currently investigating the alleged arson.
According to the release, the Council members of the Project Executive Unit had made a visit to address the possible continued use of the site, since the Haags Bosch site would not be available for use until January 2011.
Continuing, the release stated that the project execution team has identified two areas where garbage was recently disposed which can be reused, but to continue the use of the site would entail the clearing of garbage from Broad Street and the construction of an access road from Mandela Avenue.
These infrastructural works will incur additional cost, since additional manpower and equipment would be needed for implementation.
The Council project is currently awaiting approval for funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).