We can’t even get a garbage-free country much less a green economy
Dear Editor,
This country needs a person with a radical vision to transform its environment from a garbage laden one to a clean and decent place. When the coalition government became a reality, we saw the massive transformation of Georgetown. I expected this spirit of cleanliness to engulf the length and breadth of this country, but this was not so. Imagine we just go about our lives surrounded by garbage everywhere as normal. The culture of dirtiness has taken root to the extent that it doesn’t bother most Guyanese any more. Both past and present governments are guilty of acceptance of this cultural lawlessness.
Editor, my work takes me to almost every village on the coastal belt of this country. Every street corner and parapet greets you with an unsightly garbage heap. Pick any 3 villages and I can show you 100 garbage heaps. Recently a dragline dug the trenches in Cornelia Ida WCD. What came out of the trenches confirmed the cultural story of garbage disposal: old fridge, stove, bicycle, cloth, tyre ‒ the list is too long to mention here. Our sea wall tells a story of the psyche of this nation after 50 years of independence. Government continues to pump billions into the drainage and health sector while this cultural lawlessness is causing us billions as a side effect. Our tourists and visitors continue to express alarm and some pledge never to return to these filthy shores. Our days are filled with battles with garbage flies while our nights are overtaken with mosquitoes.
It is time for all the relevant environmental agencies to wake up. Is there a sanitary department of the Ministry of Public Health in operation? What about the Environmental Protection Agency? Our NDCs are filled with political misfits. They lack the common decency of cleanliness for our community enhancement and development. They too are numbed by the culture of dirtiness.
But what about our government? Are they too numbed by the situation? They travel the world and I’m sure they observe what a proper and decent society is like. There is no doubt that Guyana can’t continue this way. Our government needs to embark on radical solution of legislation and strong collaborative programmes with all the relevant agencies. I would recommend: (1) Every house/business must by law subscribe to a garbage disposal company.
(2)Every house must take care of sanitation and 10 feet in front of the yard.
(3)Every car, minibus, truck, etc, must by law carry a garbage disposal bag.
(4) Government must place garbage disposal bins along the roadway for easy disposal.
(5) Government must open dump sites for easy access.
(6) Sanitary and environmental inspectors must inspect villages regularly with the intention of warning or charging defaulters.
(7) Those found guilty of improper disposal must be fined $100,000 or 3 mouths community work.
(8) Substantial rewards must be offered for evidence of person(s) violating environmental laws.
All the talks of a green economy and environmental protection so far is mere talk. We can’t even get a garbage-free country much less a green economy. We can find 10 more oil wells, but our country’s development will go nowhere unless we free this place of the culture of dirtiness. The responsibility stops at feet of the Government of Guyana.
Yours faithfully, C Woolford