One week after garbage collectors suspended their services, there is as yet no indication of when these will be resumed, but the city is using the crisis to see if it can manage garbage collection.
Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Royston King said cleaning of the city and commercial areas is being done on a daily basis and outlying areas are cleared once a week. He said that according to the reports from the Solid Waste Department, “we are doing pretty okay”.
King said the council is using the garbage crisis as an opportunity “to see if we can manage the collection of waste”. The areas that have been targeted for this possible move, he said, are Lodge, Meadow Brook, Bourda, Lacytown to the waterfront. However, the focus remains keeping control on the current garbage crisis with council doing its best to address the crisis, King said.
Concerns have been raised by residents who reported that their garbage is not being picked up. King admits that council has not been able to get to areas such as North and South Ruimveldt and other parts of Greater Georgetown to collect garbage. The council is constrained by limited vehicles too.
Citizens are being urged to look out for the vehicles on collection days. It is expected that between today and next Wednesday the areas that are not being reached will have garbage relief. “We are asking citizens to continue to be patient and understanding,” King said.
In the meantime the M&CC is asking residents in Newtown, Charlestown, Sections G-K Campbellville and West Ruimveldt to be on the lookout for collectors today. King said the Council continues to mobilise men and equipment to address the garbage situation.
Of the $75 million it owes the three garbage collectors – Puran Brothers, Cevon’s Waste Management and Crawl and Wheelers – the city has only managed to pay $12 million. King said strenuous efforts are being made to secure the money to pay the contractors.
Last week Monday, the contractors met city officials at City Hall and demanded at least two months pay or they would suspend services to the city. When the council failed to come up with the money the collectors followed through with their threat.
The council, King said, is urging property owners to visit City Hall and pay their taxes. The city is depending heavily on persons paying off outstanding rates and taxes and some 28,000 demand notices are being served to property owners in a bid to acquire the money to pay off the debt.