Dear Editor,
A few days ago I wanted to purchase something from Muneshwer’s Store on Water Street, but I could not get a parking anywhere close to the store. Half of the parking space along Water Street is reserved for street vendors. If there happens to be an available spot, the vendors would quickly drag an old pallet or tire and place it there. I ended up parking all the way by the Singer company on Water Street. As I exited my vehicle, I picked up an empty food box that was in my car. I thought that I would have been able to find a public garbage receptacle during my walk from Singer’s to Muneshwer’s, but unfortunately there was none. Before I entered into Muneshwer’s, I asked the woman by the door if there was a garbage bin inside the store, she said no. I asked the coconut vendor in front of Muneshwer’s store if I could put my empty food box in his garbage bag, and he rudely refused. I ended up walking all the way to Bounty Supermarket, and was very happy to see 2 garbage bins by their doors. I deposited my empty food box and went back to Muneshwer’s.
Is this fair? Is this how our leaders are going to improve the image of Guyana? On one hand you have people complaining about littering, and on the other hand, there is not enough being done to reduce the volume of garbage on the streets of the so-called Garden City. Not enough garbage bins can be found in Guyana’s towns and busy shopping area. The few that are available are in very poor condition. They are rusty and people hardly empty them. Parika stelling has none, not even in front of the Police Station . I have not seen any at Supenaam stelling or Anna Regina. There is none at Mon Repos Market, unless you go to the side street where there is a big green bin with lots of flies and a foul odour. The people in Guyana are locked in time. Yes, there are garbage heaps all over, but this is not how things are done in a modern society. Adequate garbage receptacles in all municipalities and busy areas are needed. The few that are available need to be emptied on a regular basis, and damaged ones replaced. There are some along the eastern access road to the Berbice Bridge that are often seen overflowing. The authorities should be happy that people are using them. Please empty them and change the bags regularly.
Regards,
Fazal Gafoor
