Dear Editor,
Very few will agree that the lack of reliable garbage disposal service in Georgetown has not taken a toll on citizens and residents in and around the nation’s Capital.
The accumulation of garbage is no longer limited to the streets but has now spread to private residences. In the past we have seen and heard of strike action taken by the contracted collectors due to non-payment by the Mayor and City Council, often resulting in the halt of garbage collection throughout the city for an extended period of time and often forcing the creation of smaller private collectors (using horse carts) who made their rounds in several communities, collecting garbage for a fee paid by the residents. Those who did not wait for the new collectors resorted to burning their garbage on their premises or on the street corner to prevent or reduce the pile up. However, according to the Mayor and City Council, burning garbage is unlawful within the confines of the city.
Lately, there have been constant delays and changes in the garbage collection schedule which communities have grown accustomed to over the years.
In the Costello Housing Scheme area, garbage was regularly collected every Thursday, however, that suddenly shifted to Sundays on two occasions, then Monday, then Friday and so forth. It peeves me that to this day, Wednesday October 10th, 2012, the garbage collection schedule is still irregular and is of great inconvenience to all households. I believe I speak for most if not all residents who are sick and tired of playing watchmen for the garbage truck on a daily basis. Some residents have resorted to burning their garbage on the punt trench without care for their neighbours and without hindrance while others have been warned or threatened by a so called community leader.
The irregular and unreliable schedule has left many residents with no alternative to burning garbage and suffering the consequences of the law.
What does the Mayor and City Council expect the residents to do under these conditions? Are we to live in filth and risk the health and lives of our residents?
Yours faithfully,
Dyer