Diplomats roll out campaign to clean up Georgetown

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Residents of the neighbouring villages of Tucville and Lodge, Georgetown, on Monday afternoon participated in a clean-up exercise, as part of the diplomatic community-led Guyana Shines initiative.
Guyana Shines is an initiative by members of the diplomatic and civil society, including the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission, the European Union Delegation in Guyana, Conservation International, and Youth Challenge.
On Monday, volunteers gathered on the lawns of the National Gymnasium before dispersing into the field. The volunteers comprised members/staff from the diplomatic community, the U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt, Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, ECHO Director Royston King and members of the Volunteer Youth Corps.
There were two groups; one went to clean the nearby surroundings of the gymnasium. The other group went to Tucville where they cleaned the surroundings of the Tucville Primary School. During these clean-up exercises, residents of these and surrounding areas participated in the initiative. The volunteers managed to get school children to participate in cleaning up the environment.
Guyana Times International caught up with the U.S. Ambassador Hardt, who noted that Guyana is known for its waterfalls, rainforest, and savannahs; however, the city of Georgetown could be cleaner as it was in the past, hence their efforts to keep the city clean. He said, “We are all in the diplomatic community here and we are all committed to Guyana and share the desire to see Guyana as beautiful and clean as it can be.”
The ambassador stated that they are hoping to educate young people, so that they can grow up taking care of their environment. He revealed that two weeks ago they went to 14 schools, starting with St Margret’s Primary School, to inform them about the importance of keeping our environment litter free.
Hardt explained that all over the world, countries have the same litter problem; however, by being educated about its effects on the environment, this can be changed for the better. “It is a long-term process; but it had to start now and I think with the diplomatic and civil engagement, we are hoping that we can get more people from Guyana communities, schools, NGOs, and local and national governments to get involved to make Guyana a cleaner and more beautiful place,” said the ambassador.
ECHO Executive Director Royston King told this newspaper that this is a really good initiative that caters for the environment and its issues. He noted that when the Guyana Shines initiative started, ECHO facilitated the launching in the schools. “We played a really important part in mobilising the children, in getting them together, and to get them involved in this Guyana Shines Project,” he said.
King added that he is happy to be a part of what he calls a “practical demonstration of leadership”.  He said he hopes seeing these diplomats going into communities and actually doing work would make local leaders “emulate… this type of leadership, attitude, and action so that we can all advance in the interest of not only Georgetown, but Guyana and so that we can say that Guyana shines not only for now, but always”.