Anti-litter campaign to start February 1

Dear Editor,

Who wants to look at dirty roads, parapets, and canals? Roads are covered in fast food wrappers, plastics, empty soda cans and other litter. Still, litter is more than ugly – it’s actually harmful to our waterways and general environment.

Many citizens don’t know that litter and pollution from our roadways can wind up in our canals. These waterways are meant to carry storm water off the roads, any litter and debris that ends up in them can actually flow directly into public bodies of water. This means that the water we use for washing, bathing, and cooking is contaminated and becomes more polluted with each piece of litter that is tossed onto our roadways. More than that, litter clogs the canals and causes overtopping during heavy rainfall. A recent report from the Municipal Solid Waste Department revealed that there is an increasing amount of litter in different sections of the city. In spite of an increase in the frequency of clearance by council’s garbage contractors, careless citizens continue to hurt the city by throwing litter on our parapets and into our waterways.

Moreover, it is costing the city millions to clear all the piles of litter in our streets. This money could be used to do other developmental projects like building roads, bridges, health, environmental and other social facilities. Every one would agree that this is simply unacceptable. The city should not be made to carry such a heavy and unnecessary burden.

Further, with our hosting of the Cricket World Cup, we do really need to address this situation urgently. Otherwise, Georgetown could be terribly embarrassed.

With so much media coverage and so many people, some will be coming to Georgetown for the first time, we must get it right now!

As a result, the Mayor and City Council will begin a massive anti-litter campaign on February 1, 2007. The campaign will start in the Lacytown area and spread to other sections of the city. We have already contacted some media houses to publish the names of litter-bugs, whether they are found in vehicles or walking along our streets and parapets.

We are confident that all stakeholders will cooperate with this campaign for a better Georgetown.

Yours faithfully,

Royston King

Public Relations Officer

City Hall