Dear Editor,
Despite numerous reports to several authorities, and four televised newscasts by Prime News, the abandoned dumpsite on Princes Street continues to burn and the smoke that is discharged is inhaled by the residents of the area.
Editor, it appears from the responses to the reports, that Guyana is 83,000 square miles less the area of the former dumpsite, as no institution in Guyana is claiming responsibility for ensuring that the site poses no health risk to the nearby communities.
No Editor, it is not the responsibility of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) because it is an abandoned dumpsite.
No Editor, it is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLG&RD) because it is the responsibility of the M&CC or the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). No Editor, it is not the responsibility of the MPW because it is the responsibility of the MLG&RD. Yes Editor, the foregoing are the responses to the many reports.
Editor, we wonder what the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Private Sector Commission have to say on the issue. After all, they are two institutions that we presumed to be major stakeholders in solid waste management (including ensuring that the abandoned dumpsite on Princes Street poses no health risk) in Guyana.
So Editor, as Guyana celebrates the Christmas season, we, the apparent non-Guyanese, endure daily doses of smoke inhalation.
No one has died yet, so nothing will be done.
Yours faithfully,
John Jones
