The Local Government Ministry on Wednesday handed over 20 heavy duty tractor/trailers to 10 of the 16 NDCs in Region Six Berbice, at a ceremony held on the lawns of State House in New Amsterdam.
According to a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) the 10, 65 HSP-Double wheel drive tractors and 10 Bison Hydraulic lift trailers were presented in the presence of representatives from Kintyre/Borlam, Gibaltar/Fyrish, Lancaster/Hogstye, Bushlot/Adventure, Black Bush Polder, Macedonia/Joppa, Good Hope/No.51 and No.52/No.74 NDCs. They also received 25, 45 -gallon bins each.
Minister Norman Whittaker said the Ordnance/ Fortlands and Canefield/Enterprise NDCs will share one tractor and trailer which will be stationed at the Canefield NDC. The other two remaining NDCs did not receive vehicles, but they received 25 bins each at a cost of $4,500 each, all amounting to $225, 000. Each NDC benefited from approximately $5.7M. The vehicles were procured at a cost of around $57M, with each tractor costing $4.4M and each trailer, $1.25M. The equipment was procured under the ‘Clean-Up My Country’ initiative. The ministry is expected to receive a quantity of garbage bags which will also be distributed to the various NDCs.
Whittaker said 75 groups signed on to the Clean Up My Country initiative worked in Georgetown. The countrywide programme employed 2,239 Community Enhancement Workers who cleaned 69 communities spanning from Agricola to Atlantic Ville, under the $500M allocated to the capital city. The other $500M of the billion-dollar initiative was spent on activities in the other regions, which also covers the cost of the heavy duty machines.
The minister also pointed out that bulk waste was also collected in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 amounting to $67.436M. Of this sum, $14.5M was expended in Region Six. Skip metal bins were also distributed to municipal markets via this exercise to foster proper waste disposal. Regions 1, 5 and 6 also benefited from the construction of access roads to landfill sites while a fence was built around a landfill site in Region Nine.
Le Repentir and the Bourda cemeteries were sprayed and weeded while market tarmacs and drainage/washroom facilities were enhanced in La Penitence, Bourda and Stabroek markets. Lights were also installed in the Stabroek Market.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds urged the recipients to put the equipment into use. “Put it to good full use, good use but do not overuse,” he cautioned. Hinds said the administration aims to meet the needs of all Guyanese and provide a comfortable life for all. Hinds, who is serving his last term in office after 22 years also said he is pleased to have been a part of the country’s progress over the years.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan urged the representatives of the various NDCs to ensure proper management of these vehicles and strongly emphasised that they should not be put to personal use. He also announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is recruiting litter wardens who will be ensuring proper usage of the bins.
Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran lauded the partnership between the two ministries and congratulated Whittaker on the undertaking. He also called for more private sector intervention in solid waste management.
According to GINA, an MoU was signed between the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the NDCs for the use and management of the vehicles and bins. A total of 45 tractors and trailers were procured for distribution to NDCs countrywide. The other 20 NDCs either already possessed their own heavy duty equipment or will be given government support in other priority areas.
