By Dacia Whaul
Sections of five communities in Agricola; Princes, Victor and Norton streets in Lodge; Alexander Village; Ramp Road, Riverview and First to Sixth streets, Cummings Lodge have been targeted in a Ministry of Local Government clean-up programme for Georgetown, which started last week Wednesday.
Four of the five areas were inspected yesterday when Minister in the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker did a walkabout,
accompanied by Municipal Service Officer in the ministry, Fabian Jerrick and members of the media.
The walkabout, which started from Agricola, saw residents of that area, sprucing up drains in First and Second streets. Along the main road of the village, the contents of the drains were still lined up along the sides of the road. However, villagers, mostly women, were continuing the cleaning exercise, armed with shovels, spades and cutlasses in the southern half of Remus (First) Street. Samantha Roberts of Fifth Street and Cerwin Drayton and John Canzious both of First Street opined that the cleaning was needed and they were optimistic of the villagers maintaining a healthy environment.
The clean-up coordinator for Agricola is former mayor and city councillor, Ranwell Jordan, who is also coordinating a similar exercise in Mc Doom. He revealed that the areas earmarked for cleaning are the main road and First and Second streets. In the midst of interaction with Whittaker, Jordan was asked about the disposal plans for the debris removed from the drains. He explained that trucks will move the waste when the cleaning is finished.
In Mc Doom, mostly females were seen cleaning. Work in that area started last week Thursday and the target sections are Middle Street and the back dam. Leader of the cleaning contingent Pauline Charles, a resident in the village for 46 years, said she was grateful to the ministry for doing the clean-up programme.
Jordan told members of the press and Minister Whittaker that while cleaning the residents encountered snakes and other dangerous creatures; they nevertheless, carried out the works.
The trench at the intersection of Hunter Street and Front Road, separating West Ruimveldt from Alexander Village that was clogged for some time now, finally received a needed clearing. According to Anita Thorne, who was responsible for coordinating the programme in the Alexander Village and Riverview areas, it took a lot of energy to clear it.
Men were in the trench at work during the walkabout and it was only halfway completed. The alley along Hunter Street was also being cleared.
Gloria Wilson and Wendy Hernandez, who were assisting in the clean-up programme, called for villagers to maintain their environs after the programme would have been completed.
The area to be covered during the exercise in Lodge is from Chapel Street to Mandela Avenue. And according to the coordinator Gladston George, the canal along Princes Street was cleaned already and work in the other streets was ongoing. During the walkabout, men were seen cutting down tall clusters of grass along the eastern half of Chapel Street.
Though Cummings Lodge is also a beneficiary of the programme, because of time, it was not visited during the walkabout.
Briefing the press at the end of the walkabout, Whittaker stated that the exercise is being done in conjunction with community groups that have a designated coordinator. “It is a collaborative effort…,” he added.
According to Whittaker the Ministry of Health provided respirators and gloves among other things. The Ministry of Agriculture, he said, is performing similar activities in Liliendaal, Turkeyen and Kitty/Campbellville areas. Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) with support from his ministry is cleaning the main drains. Simultaneously, Whittaker said, time was allotted to educate the public on keeping their environment clean and what they can do to contribute to a healthier environment. “This exercise is to ensure continuity,” stated Whittaker, who further mentioned that those volunteering to clean up are receiving a stipend of $3,000 a day and were drawn right from the benefiting communities. Those supervising the programme will receive what he called “something more”.
When asked about the removal of silt and garbage pulled from the drains, Whittaker said trucks were hired and at the end of each day, will collect the stuff. Moreover, he said, the City Council was also moving garbage in the areas it is responsible for.
He thanked all who cooperated with the clean-up programme, opining that the programme would not have been successful, without help with mobilising and coordinating the clean-up. He made special mention of Walter Narine from the City Council and Jerrick.
