Efforts being made to restore Guyana’s beauty

– Gy$36M allocated to National Task Force Commission

In an effort to restore the country to its former glory by showcasing Guyana’s natural beauty and resources diverse in its forestry, rivers, soil type, minerals and numerous waterfalls, the recently established National Task Force Commission (NTFC) has begun works under its “Project Restore Guyana” initiative.

The NTFC has been awarded thirty-six million dollars by Cabinet for a six-month duration until the other budget is presented in 2016, where funding should be continued throughout the next five years.

Though the NTFC is yet to receive the monies, work is already underway.

This is according to Retired Major General Joe Singh, who during a media briefing at the Public Infrastructure Ministry on Monday stated that there has been significant deterioration of many aspects of the Guyanese life including unplanned settlements, inadequate traffic flows, garbage buildup and occasional flooding in many areas.

As such, the National Task Force Commission will be focusing on five important issues which revolve around drainage, traffic management, sustainable urban, rural and hinterland physical structure renewal and solid waste management and derelict vehicle removal.

Last but not least the welfare management of the homeless, addicted and mentally challenged will also be a key issue for the commission.

Guyana Times International was told that the major failures in Guyana which have affected the country in the past and continue in the present are the failure to enforce laws and standards, lack of physical planning for growth and renewal and the lack of routine and necessary maintenance. The general neglect of the poor, homeless, aged, disabled and other unfortunate members of society is also a main part of the reason for the country’s failures.

Singh explained that the mission of the Task Force is to restore Guyana as a land of great attractiveness and prosperity and one which offers a goof life for all its citizens and visitors.

According to Retired Major General Singh, the vision for a rehabilitated, restored and renewed Guyana will see civic pride being restored, all Guyanese enjoying a “good life” and for the country to become a hub for commerce, tourism and development.

Below sea level

As it relates to the issue of drainage, it was stated that the City and six towns all drain into the Atlantic Ocean, all below sea level at high tide. This situation is worsened by alleyways, main and lateral drains, and drainage canals often being blocked by heavy vegetation and solid waste, he explained.

Guyana Times International was told that solid waste management seems to be a monumental problem in almost every community, and as such, the NTFC’s mission on this issue is to recommend well developed ‘best practices’ which can be employed in all areas of Guyana. These are to include predictable garbage collection, recycling, conversion of organic waste into compost and the removal of derelict vehicles.

As for the area of traffic management, the problem is that there is an increase in the number of commercial and personal vehicles over the years and ‘urban sprawl’ along the East and West Banks, and the West Coast of Demerara. This has rendered Guyana’s road network and with Georgetown being the only city, numerous people are travelling to and from it every day for business and leisure.

With this in mind, the NTFC’s mission is to recommend actions to address road safety, traffic congestion and lack of parking as well as to expand the road network while introducing and maintaining sustainability.

Retired Major General Singh further stated that countrywide decay is very visible in many areas of Guyana.

The poor quality of the buildings, national monuments and public spaces, the lack of proper maintenance, along with insufficient space to respond to growing social demands have degraded living conditions.

“Our mission is to recommend a more balanced national structure that is less environmentally demanding, systems of enforcement against the use of non-environmentally friendly pesticides; and buildings and sites for preservation… For welfare management of the homeless, addicted and mentally challenged as they are encountered in other goals the mission is to recommend actions to address the issue in cases where they affect the implementation of the other goals,” the media was told.

It was further stated that the NTFC has already set goals and timelines for its “deliverables.”

In September this year, there will be a summary report derived from research and public consultation and in October 2015 there will be a draft restoration plan including detailed plan and budget for phase one activities.

November 2015 will see the final restoration plan and between this month to May 2016, the monitoring of the implementation of phase one will be conducted.