Dear Editor,
I was pleased to see the letter from Winston Miller Snr. in Stabroek News (Friday 5th Oct) about the disgraceful conditions in Bartica as a result of uncontrolled waste disposal.
I had written to the Environmental Protection Agency about this some time ago, particularly, about the unrestricted disposal of waste oil into the river and the appalling appearance of the waterfront as a refuse dump.
Bartica is at the centre of the rivers which flow past the beaches of our three major nature tourist resorts and attractions. Bartica is also at the administrative centre of the area we have promoted as an ideal anchorage for cruise yachts visiting Guyana. Bartica is where visiting yachts first anchor to clear Customs and Immigration, but the Bartica waterfront is a disgusting and repelling eyesore.
In spite of the huge volume of water which flows past the town, the oil and solid waste dumped into the river leaves a clearly identifiable oil slick on the shiny white hulls of the cruisers at anchor within 24 hours of their arrival.
I have sent the EPA the photographic evidence. I have also copied it to the Prime Minister because I have reason to believe that the GPL is the major culprit in the oil pollution.
I attended a recent meeting hosted by THAG to which all of the Ministries and Agencies of government responsible for protecting our environment, for managing our solid waste disposal and for imposing discipline on those who break the law governing our environment, were invited.
The police did not bother to attend. The EPA representatives explained their physical limitations to enforce the environmental law and the limitations of the law itself to impose sanctions.
The Ministry of Local Government laid out their strategy and plans to manage solid waste collection and disposal for our capital city, adjoining suburbs, our coastal towns and villages, and, even for Bartica and Lethem. But, that’s what they are and so far remain, plans. They explained that there is little or no budget to carry them out, except for Georgetown.
We did, however, find enough money for a very expensive World Cup Cricket followed by another very expensive CARIFESTA. Nevertheless, I wonder what our visitors thought of our garbage strewn city canals and our smoking garbage dump in Georgetown?
At that meeting we also learnt that our road to Lethem which passes through Iwokrama, another major tourist destination, is fast becoming an elongated and unsightly garbage dump from the travellers who use it and care not how and where they throw their waste.
No one had, even a plan, to deal with this development. Iwokrama’s staff told the meeting that they collect the garbage but, it’s environmentally unacceptable to burn it and there is no proper place to dispose of it.
Yes, we need to plan and to spend the money to take care of our waste disposal throughout our country and we need to get on with it giving some priority to those places where we wish to attract visiting tourists. But, first we need to discipline ourselves as a people. The dumping of oil in the river at Bartica is sheer carelessness. The Bartica businessmen along Main Street throwing their garbage and the abattoir its waste in the river should be ashamed of themselves. The Chairman of the NDC and its members and the Bartica police have no excuse for not preventing this happening.
What’s happening in Bartica, to a lesser or greater degree, is happening everywhere else in the country. Tourists will not visit a filthy country and that is what we are fast becoming.
It is my hope that Stabroek News will send this letter to the appropriate agencies for a response.
Yours sincerely,
Kit Nascimento
Editor’s note: A copy of this letter is being sent to the Region Seven Regional Democratic Council and the Environmental Protection Agency for any comments they may wish to make.
