Persons in West Berbice commented on how they dispose of their garbage:
Photos and interviews
by Shabna Ullah
Devika Kurhair, housewife
`I dispose of my garbage in a barrel and I would burn it whenever it is full. The barrel is stored on the street behind my house and far from where other people are living so the smoke doesn’t bother anyone.
Garbage is not my problem in the area though. The street at Wire Dam, Bush Lot where I live is in a terrible state. The government workers dug the canal and throw all the slush on the dam and this is making it difficult for persons to use it. The bridge to cross to get access to a better street also collapsed about two years ago and nobody is bothering to fix it. When the rain falls we have to walk through people’s yards.’
Kelvin Sandy, electrician
`I live at the MMA compound at Onverwagt and we don’t have a problem with garbage 
there because MMA would come weekly and take it away.
Sometimes if it is a small amount we would burn it in the yard and it would finish burning very fast. I don’t think we have a problem in most parts of West Berbice with persons dumping garbage all around. It seems like persons are becoming more conscious about disposing their garbage in a better manner.’
Jermin Felix, businessman
`I would dispose of my garbage in bags and then burn them every two days. I would take the garbage bags out on the sea dam at Blairmont close to where I live and burn it. I do not wait until it piles up and take a long time to burn. Some people would take their garbage to the backdam, I believe through the village council, and dump it while others would just dump them anywhere.’
Lily Dasmat, seamstress
`I have a dried out pond in my backyard and that is where I 
throw my garbage. It is a big, open space and houses are not close-by so I would burn it right there. I would also watch it until it is burnt completely; I do not leave it to smoke for too long. The pond was made to keep water for ducks and for other uses and after it dried up we decided to use it for garbage.’
Arthur Rajkumar, retired
businessman
`I burn some of my garbage in my backyard and I would bury those which cannot be burnt. At one time the NDC had dug a dumpsite close to the seaside in Bush Lot but four years ago some other persons from the race course fill it up back. Now a lot of people have problems with garbage disposal and would end up dumping all over.
There is a vacant plot of land north of the burial ground that is suitable for a landfill site and another one should be made there. That would help to take off the volume of garbage in the village.’
Latchmin Azeez, educator/
community leader
`There is a dumpsite at the Lovely Lass backlands and that is where I would dispose of my garbage. It is difficult for a lot of people to access that dumpsite though and people would still dump indiscriminately. I find the Lovely Lass area the most suitable place because it is away from people’s homes. The NDCs have the facilities to collect the garbage from homes and dispose of it there and I suggest that they do that for a small fee. This would help to alleviate flooding during the rainy season as well as the waterborne diseases that come with it. The drainage and irrigation workers are trying their best to clear the drains but yet some persons would dump there right after. They need to have a sense of responsibility towards their environment.’
Alim Baksh, tailor,
`I dispose of my garbage by burning but the cans, bottles and other items that I can’t burn I would dump over the sea defence where persons have started a garbage heap. I noticed other persons coming around in vehicles or on bicycles and just throw bags with garbage all over the streets. This is very unsightly especially when dogs would burst the bags and scatter the garbage all over. This also breeds mosquitoes and can also lead to illness. I think government needs to find a proper place for garbage in Bush Lot because it is a big village.’
Raymond Ramdatt, manager 
(ag.) of NBS bank, Rosignol
`At the Bath New Scheme where I live I would burn or bury my garbage – you cannot burn everything. If I had an option I would not burn in my yard because of the hazards behind it and it is also not an environmentally friendly practice. If we have a dumpsite in the area it would help to reduce the clogging in the waterways. A dumpsite would also help to reduce mosquito and fly infestations but it should be strategically structured so that the burnt out substance can be used as a landfill.’
Trudell Fordyce, caterer
`I dig a hole in my yard at Belladrum and bury most of my garbage and I would burn it sometimes. A garbage truck used to come around in the village at one time and that helped to ease up the residents a lot. I think a dumpsite is needed in the area and I would also be happy if a truck can go around and pick up the garbage again. Thankfully, we don’t have a problem with persons dumping garbage all over. They are becoming more conscious of the consequences.’
Marla Fordyce, supervisor
`I dispose of my garbage by burning or I would dig a hole 
at the back of my yard and bury it. In my village at Paradise, that is how all the residents do it because we have nowhere else to take it. I don’t believe in having a dumpsite; I believe burning is better. Some people may say that having a dumpsite is modern but to me that would make the place get filthy after a time. When the garbage is in their yards they would not allow it to get filthy, they would sweep it up and burn it so I think that is the best way.’
