City clean-up begins this week- Local Govt Minister

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 June 2014, 2:13 by GxMedia

A Technical Committee comprising  representatives from different Ministries and agencies has been established to spearhead the city’s clean – up exercise.

The announcement was made Monday by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker during a press conference at his Ministry located at Kingston, Georgetown.

The sum of GUY$1Billion was approved during this year’s national budget for a countrywide clean-up of which GUY$500M will go towards enhancing the general physical environment of the city and its aesthetics.

“You would be aware that the ministry is the executing agency for this exercise. The key stakeholders who have been identified to move this project forwards include, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Housing and Water, the Private Sector, City Council and Civil Society, including NGOs and volunteer groups.”

This committee will have direct oversight of the project and will be reporting directly to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government.

High on the agenda as the project is being executed the Minister said, will be capacity building among the agencies responsible for maintaining the city and its assets.

Works under this project will include restoring in some instances public assets, rehabilitation of kokers and sluices, clearing main canals, roadside drains, parapets and alleyways, cemeteries, monuments, public and open spaces, and market areas.

As it relates to rehabilitating public assets, the Minister explained that they have requested a list from the City Engineer outlining machinery and heavy-duty equipment that are in need of repairs.

These items will include excavators, tractors, and garbage trucks, which belong to the council but are inoperable.

Other areas of works will include desilting of drains and main canals, re – activating of kokers, removal of garbage from illegal dumping sites and clearing of Le Repentir Cemetery.

With regards to the works to be done at Le Repentir Cemetery, the Minister said the services of inmates of the Georgetown Prisons will be used for the clearing of the bush, while tender will be advertised for the clearing of drains and road works.

The Minister announced that already consultations for community clean-up have commenced, and works will begin this week with  Campbellville, Section ‘L’ and the Albouystown area.

“Consultation with business community is in its planning stage,  we have initiated some informal meetings but we will make it formal this week.”

Further, waste collection bins will be placed in strategic locations as distribution has begun through the NDC in Region Four.

“We are expecting that with the enactment of the Solid Waste Management Bill and the operationalisation of the Solid Waste Management Authority these will contribute in large measure, not only to the operational aspect of what we are doing, but with the enforcement aspect also.”