The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was yesterday ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cease mismanaging garbage at markets or face legal action.
In a novel notice to Town Clerk Carol Sooba after an investigation of dumping and other problems, the EPA issued the prohibition instrument to the city with “immediate effect, ordering the Mayor and City Council to desist from causing, advertently or inadvertently, the continued inadequate management of the solid waste (irregular collection, poor storage, inappropriate disposal of garbage, and lack of regular cleaning of the markets, internally and externally) at the Stabroek, Bourda and East La Penitence Markets.”
In a statement yesterday, the EPA said that failure to comply with this order and its terms and conditions within seven days of receipt will “result in legal action being taken against you by the Agency. The Agency will monitor these locations to verify compliance with this Prohibition Notice.”
It is unclear what steps can be taken by City Hall as the council has been riven by a series of problems including internal disputes and lack of funding.
The notice also came after recent reports that city council workers had been dumping garbage in various parts of the city.
The November 8th edition of Stabroek News reported that M&CC workers were caught dumping garbage on the junction of Schumacker and Water streets.
Although the M&CC workers were photographed dumping huge bins of rubbish in the area, City Hall officials denied any knowledge of their activities.
A blogger Mark Jacobs, had witnessed the actions of the council workers and documented it on his site along with photographs of the activity.
The EPA statement yesterday said that through its Litter Enforcement Unit it has been probing “indiscriminate dumping, and inadequate collection and disposal of solid and other waste at Stabroek Market, Bourda Market, in the vicinity of Merriman Mall, Orange Walk, and North Road, and East La Penitence Market.”
It said that the most recent investigations were conducted on November 17 and 18, 2014 at the Bourda and Stabroek Markets.
It said that its investigation revealed the following:
- The above mentioned locations were littered with a large amount of organic waste, and were unsightly, and were a serious detriment to the amenities of the surrounding public space and neighbourhoods;
- There were no working and/or adequate infrastructure (specifically bins, and working compactors) for vendors to dispose/place their waste;
- A heavy unpleasant odour was emanating from these locations.
- Garbage was seen in nearby waterways and drains;
- Bourda Market had not been cleaned internally for some time; garbage and human waste were seen in various locations within the market.
The EPA added that the current inadequate management systems at these markets, under the M&CC resulted in irregular collection, poor storage, inappropriate disposal of garbage, and lack of regular cleaning of the markets.
The EPA said it has determined that the improper management of solid waste at the locations mentioned poses “a severe risk to public health and the environment. As such, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act, 1996, Part V Sec.27 (1) (b)- “where it appears to the Agency that any activity in any area is such as to pose a serious threat to natural resources or the environment or risk of serious pollution of the environment or any damage to public health, the Agency shall serve on the person responsible for the activity, a prohibition notice.”
The notice was signed by Indarjit Ramdass, the executive Director of the EPA.
The actual notice to Sooba said
“whereas in the course of advertently or inadvertently causing the continued inadequate management of the solid waste … at the Stabroek, Bourda and East La Penitence Markets, in a manner which in the opinion of the Agency poses a risk to public health and the environment, you are hereby ordered in accordance with Section 27 of the aforementioned Act to immediately remove the litter currently deposited at the above-stated locations and ensure that adequate management systems are put in place for the regular collection, proper storage, disposal and regular cleaning of these areas under your purview, and avoidance of this situation in the future.”
Disobeying of the notice, the EPA said “shall render you liable to prosecution and to penalties prescribed under Paragraph (f) of the Fifth Schedule of the Environmental Protection Act, No. 11 of 1996, being a fine of not less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) nor more than seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) and imprisonment for one year.”
The notice said that an appeal could be lodged within seven days of receipt of the notice.
