Dear Editor,
For the past two months the collection of garbage in Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara, is close to non-existent. I am a taxpayer and don’t think it’s too much to ask why this basic service provided by the Better Hope NDC is not functioning. This body seems to be least reliable when mostly needed. What happen to the Clean-Up-Your Country Programme that the government is boasting about? Or is the village of Happy Acres not a part of this country?
Presently, I am displaying several garbage receptacles that are overflowing. These receptacles (barrels) are so neatly arranged in the front of my yard that a stranger passing through my area will mistakenly think that I operate a shipping service, only to find, when looking closely, it’s actually garbage waiting to be disposed of. From time to time, dogs have a field day with this, and both my neighbour and I are saddled with an additional responsibility to clean up this spillage ever so often for the past two months.
Attempts to have the garbage removed by private garbage removal companies have met some resistance, even though we have offered money to do it. Many of the roads in the area are also in a deplorable state. Several verbal attempts to have this issue addressed have fallen on deaf ears. From time to time, many residents would use building waste and other materials to full the huge potholes so as to make the roads passable. This is still ongoing.
My immediate neighbour, Mr Paul Ramsammy in early January of this year went into the NDC to pay his taxes and enquired about the inefficient removal of garbage. To his surprise, a disrespectful staff member at the NDC laughed at him (his words). He told me he can identify the staff member. I hope the management of this NDC will wake up from its ‘deep sleep’ and investigate this issue. It seems like talking to these people is like the old adage, throwing water on duck’s back. There seems to be a total breakdown of morals and the strong level of a ‘don’t care attitude’ existing at this NDC. For an organization to deteriorate to this level only points to a management that seems to have lost its way.
I was seriously contemplating taking my garbage and dumping it in front of the NDC office to see if they will finally wake up after not smelling the roses. However, since there are laws and I am a law-abiding citizen such drastic action (which is sometimes necessary to get things done) was out of the question. In addition, one cannot claim ignorance of the law. I am desperate for this issue to be addressed because not only is it unhealthy, but as the father of two small kids I am very concerned for their health and safety.
I would strongly recommend that the Minister of Local Government or someone who has the authority intervene in the transgressions at the Better Hope NDC urgently. The reason for this request is that this situation can have severe negative consequences.
In closing, we do look forward for some level of intervention as soon as possible from both the NDC and the government to effectively address these issues that are affecting the residents of Happy Acres. This situation is overbearing and as human beings and citizens of this country we all have our limits which we can endure.
Yours faithfully,
Ricky Roopchand
Paul Ramsammy
