Interviews and photos by David Papannah
In the wake of the recently started ‘Pick it Up’ campaign which encourages persons to clean up and take pride in their community, we asked some men and women in Berbice what they thought of the campaign and whether they would want to be part of it. Their views follow:
Marcia King — vendor: ‘It is a good campaign because we need a clean environment to dwell in. It is about time they have something like this. The only way it would work I think is if they enforce fines on the litter bugs. People in authority should invest money to keep our environment clean. It is not easy to see a dirty environment. Some people would take part in this campaign and some would not. I would take part in a campaign once I have the time and I think all Guyanese should be a part of this. It is about time they take pride in cleaning their environment because it is getting worse and worse.’
Ms Joan – pensioner: ‘The campaign is a nice one yes but I think they should campaign on the people themselves. They have to find some way to stop people from dumping garbage inappropriately and the thinking they have that because they pay their rates and taxes they should not clean their place. They should use some strict laws on people who dump their garbage all over the place. The campaign would help Guyana to be a cleaner place. They should also carry out this exercise every day.’
Thomas Trim — pensioner: ‘This is a great campaign and it will help to give us a good environment but there is still a problem where would all the garbage be dumped. They need to provide methods for proper disposal. A healthy environment will give healthy and wise thinking. It would help to have the germs and diseases decreased from the environment. I would take part in a campaign like this since it is something that affects everybody.’
Lawrence Johnson – construction worker: ‘It starts with oneself and with the community and help from the government. They need to target areas where garbage is a huge problem like the markets and main streets. Plus you have to charge the persons a fine and it will aid with the flooding and stench in the area. All in all it looks like a very good campaign and I would be a part of it ’cause I want to see the place clean and tidy.’
Miss Christine – teacher: ‘It is an excellent campaign. I am heartened to know that there is campaign like this. Persons should make it their duty to have clean surroundings and it would help the government by having a healthier nation. Citizens should ensure that they dispose [of] their waste properly and when parents do this then the children would do the correct thing and dump their waste properly. The campaign will help to reduce air and water borne diseases. Citizens should ensure that they dispose [of] their waste properly. I would definitely be a part of a campaign like this.’
Osborn Jeffrey – vendor: ‘It is good. Not a bad idea. And it is right that you have a campaign like this to keep the place clean and have a better environment. The campaign would benefit the country a whole lot because it would help to reduce the flooding and all the clogging of drains also reduces the diseases. I think when it is taken on very strongly it will help in climate change. I would take part in something like this because it would be of benefit to me and every one.’
Haniff Ali – meat vendor: ‘I do not think it would work because the people in Guyana have a dirty attitude; they rely on the authorities because they pay their rates and taxes. Another reason why it would not work is the local authorities put the money what is to be spent on cleaning into their pockets. If the campaign is going to work then the people will have to change. I would volunteer my time and I have already started. I clean my own place.’
Paul Tornhiwl – overseas-based Guyanese: ‘That is a very great campaign because I was in Georgetown on Sunday around the Stabroek Market area and the place had a very bad stench, so I think a campaign like this would work. But they would need to bury the garbage because if they dump it and leave it then the garbage would fly about the place again. Persons need to take the responsibility in the way they throw away their garbage. If they go abroad they would not do what they are doing here. This campaign would help to prevent diseases and the spread of mosquitoes. All Guyanese need to get involved in this campaign since it would help to make Guyana cleaner and more beautiful.’
Moreen Ramsarran – cake decorator: ‘That is not a bad idea to have a campaign like this because it would help Guyana to look clean like the countries abroad. For this campaign to work though everybody would have to do their part by disposing of their garbage properly. The local authorities should place bins all over so when persons have garbage to throw away they would not have to throw it on vacant land. The country can benefit from this greatly by reducing flood, the infestation of files and mosquitoes and even germs. I would give my time to help in cleaning the environment once I have the chance.’
Evelyn Rengasammy – pensioner: ‘The campaign is very good but I think it would only work if the activity is being carried out every day; that way the garbage would ease up and the place would look a bit cleaner. The people would benefit and the country, because persons would not get sick a lot and the sanitation of the country would be better. Persons should be fined if they get caught littering and the fines should be heavy like $10,000; that way they would learn not to litter.’
