Minister of Local Government Priya Manickchand says changes are being made to Georgetown’s garbage collection system, including the removal of a 48-hour grace period for private contractors to correct missed pickups.
In a video posted to her Facebook page on Friday, Manickchand said garbage contractors currently have up to 48 hours under their contracts with City Hall to address failures to collect garbage.
She said the arrangement contributes to garbage remaining on the streets, creating problems with flies, mosquitoes, animals scattering waste and garbage entering drains and waterways.
Manickchand said discussions with garbage collectors have resulted in an agreement to change the 48-hour provision. Under the proposed arrangement, City Hall would undertake the collection itself and charge the contractor if a pickup is missed.
She also announced plans to collaborate with City Hall to reinstitute pickup of carpet waste, which she said has not been routinely collected since around 2016 or 2017.
According to Manickchand, skip bins have also been placed at locations where illegal dumping has become common, while City Hall is instituting a second garbage collection in densely populated communities in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government.
She urged residents to stop dumping garbage on streets and said the Government is also working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Police Force to enforce anti-littering laws through the Municipal Court.
Manickchand said enforcement would apply regardless of a person’s age, occupation, political affiliation or other circumstances.
The Minister further said the garbage collection approach would be extended to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils across the country, using government-provided tractors, trailers and garbage trucks, with independent monitors reporting directly to the Ministry.
She said the objective is to improve garbage collection and address the accumulation of waste in Georgetown and communities across the country.
“Get ready for a clean city,” Manickchand said, while acknowledging that achieving the changes would not be easy.
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