Interviews and photos by Dacia Whaul and Desilon Daniels
In the wake of an announcement last week by the government that it would impose a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam) in its bid to clean up the environment, we asked the man/woman in the street whether they thought this would help to address the dire situation, especially in the city. Their comments follow:
Clinton ‘Jerry’ Jeremiah, bus driver – ‘I think it’s a very good idea but then again, if you want to buy food, what’s the alternative? What are we going to use? What is going to happen? I see a guy does come here with his minibus full of Styrofoam box. Now what is going to happen to people like them? They will have to give people time to sell off their products.’
Rajpatie Sudial, vendor – ‘If the authorities say it’s cancerous, well I don’t think it’s wrong. But then I pass every day by the Avenue of Republic in the bus; Oh my God! One million Styrofoam boxes in the drains! I don’t think that is right. That is the clogging that caused the big, big flood in 2005. If they ban it, I don’t think it’s wrong.’
Kamla Bheer, stall owner – ‘Well, if they ban it they throw you out of business. Because that is our business, selling food boxes and Styrofoam items. And what would the other class of people do who are selling food and stuff? Where are they going get the things from to sell their food? The biodegradable items will be much more expensive and things already expensive. When you sell a food, how much can you sell a food for? That will be much more expensive. You cannot buy it. They will really throw you out of business.’
Simone Brummel, public servant – ‘I think Styrofoam is the cause of the place flooding. I think it’s a good idea that they are banning it. The biodegradable items are a good idea. I don’t think it would affect me because I don’t use them.’
Letitia Myles, soldier – ‘I was very glad when I heard about it because in the army Styrofoam was banned a very long time ago because the compound had a garbage problem. It’s nice to see that everyone else is catching up. It would really help with the environmental problem.’
Clement Vasconcellos, vendor – ‘I think it is a good idea, because plastic bags float, and drink bottles float and block up the drains. I also think that the ban will help with littering. And if people don’t want it banned, all they have to do is properly dispose of their garbage in a bin, when they are finished with it.’
Devon Charles, mason – ‘I personally believe, that banning Styrofoam materials is good for the environment, because the materials don’t deteriorate, they always linger in the environment and even burning it, the chemicals that will come from the smoke and go into the air will affect the environment. So I personally support the banning of Styrofoam. My belief is even if they ban Styrofoam it wouldn’t help keep the environment clean, because Guyanese people need to change their littering habits.’
C Surujbali, businessman – ‘I think it will affect the customers a lot because everybody uses Styrofoam products. Like soup, people use the bowls to sell soup and coffee in the cup, and if they ban these things, it will affect the small man as well as all the people selling from carts around the place. It will also affect my business. We used to sell the cardboard boxes before, but I feel the Styrofoam is better and the change will make a lot of small people feel the squeeze. The biodegradable items will be more expensive. And if they think that banning Styrofoam will help the garbage problem, it will not. They need to do much more improvement with the garbage collection because not only Styrofoam blocking up the drains.’
H Hardowar, businessman – ‘I don’t have a problem with the banning of Styrofoam material, as long as it is helping with the environment. What they are saying is that they are banning the Styrofoam and then bringing in biodegradable, which will be more expensive for the customers. I will not have to face the consequences, but the customers will. I will buy and I will sell for a profit, but the consumers will face the consequences. I didn’t go to the meeting, but I heard that you got to get licence to import Styrofoam, plus there is a factory somewhere up the east bank, making the biodegradable containers. I will go with the flow. I don’t have a problem, because that is my line of business – all different kinds of boxes, cups, whatever. I would not have a problem; it’s just that the price will be more expensive. I understand that they are saying that when you put the Styrofoam in the microwave, it is giving off chemicals. I don’t really have a problem with the ban so long as it will help with the environment, and they are putting things in place. But, if they saying that this is going to get rid of the garbage problem, this ban can’t solve the garbage problem. It would help to a point, but it wouldn’t solve the problem.’
Parbattie De Santos, vendor – ‘I prefer the banning of Styrofoam materials yes, because that thing does cause a lot of problems around the city and as matter of a fact, in the whole country. Those things block the drains. If you burn those boxes, they will burn, but they give off a black, black smoke, which is bad for the environment.’
