–with 22 new garbage trucks
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
THE Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, continues to advance its nationwide efforts to improve solid-waste management, with 22 trucks handed over to Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Friday.
The ministry in a press statement said that all 19 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the region’s three municipalities are set to benefit from distribution of the vehicles, which will significantly enhance the capacity of local authorities to execute timely and efficient waste collection and disposal.
The ministry said: “This latest investment forms part of the government’s broader commitment to improving community infrastructure, sanitation, and environmental health throughout Guyana. The additional trucks are expected to improve garbage-collection schedules, support cleaner communities, and assist local democratic organs in maintaining public spaces and neighbourhoods.”
Regional Chairman, Junior Basant, said, “garbage trucks would aid significantly in Region Six…as much like the rest of the country, we do have a solid waste so this will be a tremendous help in curbing that issue in Region Six.”
According to Basant, the move is a significant one and gratitude is owed to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, for seeing the importance of this.
“I know this is just the beginning of the work and I encourage all of you NDCs that are here to ensure we keep these trucks to a standard, we maintain them, we encourage our drivers [to] take the utmost care of them,” Basant said.
The ministry also noted that several NDC representatives have since underscored the significance of the initiative, describing it as a transformative development for their communities.
Chairperson of the Hogstye/Lancaster NDC, Sheron Smith, noted that the additional resources will allow local authorities to better serve communities.
In particular, the subvention funding this project will allow citizens to benefit free of cost.
“The initiative underscores the government’s recognition of the critical role proper waste management plays in public health, environmental sustainability, and national development. By equipping local authorities with the necessary resources, the government aims to ensure more reliable service delivery and greater efficiency in sanitation management across all communities,” she said.
The deployment of the trucks to Region Six is part of a wider national programme to modernise solid-waste management systems and strengthen the operational capacity of local authorities countrywide, the Local Government Ministry said.
The ministry added that residents can look forward to improved waste-collection services once the trucks are distributed and become fully operational.
The government, the ministry affirmed, remains steadfast in its commitment to creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable communities for all Guyanese through continued investments in essential public services and infrastructure.
