The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is calling on the government to implement a Solid Waste Management Plan to effectively deal with the gigantic garbage problem plaguing the entire nation, but especially the country’s capital city. The call was made by APNU’s leader David Granger on Friday at the party’s weekly press conference.
The opposition leader pointed out that the government should display leadership and move to address the garbage situation, which is affecting the country’s development.
“Guyana has a gigantic garbage problem. Every part of the country, not only Georgetown, is affected by the garbage crisis. Knolls of rubbish have disfigured the urban and rural landscape. Builders waste, carrion, damaged vehicles, and discarded tyres encumber roadsides and sidewalks,” he said.
Granger suggested that a national approach needs to be adopted and proposed a national solid waste management plan, which will outline targets to reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste.
“The plan must mandate the selective sorting of reusable waste ‘at source’ in households and business places… must make use of the large quantity of vegetable waste generated every day by municipal markets, farms, restaurants, schools, and the hospitality industry in towns and neighbourhoods,” he stated.
The opposition leader urged collaborations among the government, municipal authorities, corporations, and citizens in order to tame the giant garbage monster.
Politicised problem
Granger explained that whenever he advocates for a particular measure, despite the government not indicating that it has paid heed to these recommendations, he usually receives reports that action has been taken by the government to address issues.
He remains positive that it will again take action, stating “the government pretends not to hear but quietly they go about implementing government policies which the APNU has been calling for”.
He went on to say that the government has been politicising the garbage situation, since a few days ago it indirectly cast blame on the APNU for the garbage pile-up. The opposition leader highlighted that one of the major problems the city is facing is its lack of funds, since its budget cannot fulfil its responsibilities. He added that another problem the City Hall is faced with is the lack of cooperation and conflict between the town clerk and the mayor.
Georgetown restoration
APNU has previously tabled a motion for the restoration of Georgetown to the National Assembly and it was passed unanimously; however, the coalition leader pointed out that maybe the PPP/ C administration needed some sort of an incentive to move forward with the legislation.
The grouping’s shadow infrastructure and development minister, Joseph Harmon, said the motion was one of the initiatives the APNU has taken to curb this issue. He explained that four subcommittees were subsequently established to deal with the garbage in Georgetown.
He pointed out that he had meetings with all of the managers in the City Council’s solid waste management system and basically looked at ways to deal with solid waste management, more so now that the rainy season has begun.
