As the city’s garbage crisis lingers, heaps of refuse are being seen along the roadways and the Mayor and City Council is appealing to citizens to effect disposal at the landfill site or to bury their trash if there is available space.
When Stabroek News went around the city yesterday, garbage pile-ups along the roadways could be seen but some of the persons spoken to said that so far they have been coping by paying persons to dispose of their waste.
However it seems that many of these persons are not dumping the garbage at the landfill site. According to one resident in Kitty, “junkies” (drug addicts) are offering to empty bins for a small fee but they are dumping the garbage in alleyways and empty lots and burning it.
In Albouystown, one resident who lives at the junction of Punt Trench and La Penitence Market Road pointed to an overflowing garbage heap which she says has been affecting her business since it is breeding flies.
The resident who operates a food snackette said that for four days no one has come to clear the garbage and persons have been dumping their trash at the head of the road.
Some persons tried burning the garbage but found that the Fire Service would put out the fire.
Currently, the woman said that a relative has been disposing of the family garbage at the landfill site.
Another resident said that she usually pays about $200 for her garbage to be disposed of but admits that she does not know if it is taken to the landfill site. A drive along Sussex Street revealed mini heaps of garbage along the road.
And in Upper North Ruimveldt, some residents said that they are being affected more by flooding than by the garbage crisis. One resident, Ingrid Mc Gregor said that she has noticed the prison service vehicle picking up garbage.
Another resident who did not want to be named said that the real crisis is the flooding that affects the area after rainfall. Several streets were observed to be under water following yesterday morning’s downpour.
The contracted garbage collectors suspended their services last Monday after City Hall failed to pay the sum of $75 million owing to them.
In a press release the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had said, “Regrettably to date, council is unable to make $75 million available to the contractors.” This resulted in the garbage collectors following through with their planned action, the release added.
In the meantime, M&CC Public Relations Officer Royston King said that all efforts are being made to reach areas that have not been served since the garbage contractors suspended their service. However, he pointed out that dumping along the roadways was making their efforts more challenging.
King also noted that dumping had been a challenge to the council even before the suspension of operations by the garbage contractors.
“We are asking citizens not to use those people who have veered off the normal side of life…those persons are dumping wherever they see space,” King added.
Further, King pointed out that citizens should not burn their garbage since it is a fire hazard given the close proximity of buildings. “If you cannot get your garbage to the landfill site then if you have space in your yard, the council is advising that you bury your garbage,” King said.
In a meeting yesterday with the administration, King said that the council was working on some proposals that will see it reaching certain areas such as the southern areas within certain city wards.
Meanwhile, King has extended gratitude to businessman Chris Fernandes of John Fernandes Limited. According to King, Fernandes is undertaking the cleaning of the Water Street waterfront using his own resources.
“The council is grateful and would be grateful if other businessmen can emulate the civic-mindedness of this corporate citizen,” King said.
