Dear Editor,
The front page of the Sunday Stabroek for July 17 contained a headline that included the names of two garbage collection services that caught my attention. Both of the waste management services named in the news item are major players presently involved in the wanton destruction of the roads and other violations in a section of the new Eccles Housing Scheme that runs parallel to the dump site access road, and where the government built two-flat turnkey and other houses.
The road was built about two years ago and the destruction started about six months ago when, instead of using the dump site road, the garbage trucks of these two services resorted to using the community road. As you might imagine, there is other vehicular traffic, including other garbage collection services that use the road. But by virtue of sheer volume and frequency, Puran Brothers and Cevon’s Waste Disposal services have contributed to over 90 per cent of the destruction and other violations. The shoulders of large sections of the road have broken off, parapets are damaged, and in one case the electric wire that connects a resident’s house to the Guyana Power and Light pole along with the meter was recklessly ripped away from where it was secured on the house by one of these trucks. Although the violations can be attributed mostly to vehicles that transport garbage in uncovered vehicles, as well as other persons with no regard for cleanliness and good sanitation, there is also the problem of littering, especially along the dump site road.
Editor, the presence of these trucks roaming through the community and emitting a stinking, nauseating smell from very early in the morning to late in the afternoon, seven days a week, even though neither of them is known to provide a collection service to the community, is contributing to the degradation of the community rather than its development. According to environmental experts, continued exposure to such conditions may cause respiratory and breathing problems. Further, these trucks pose serious noise pollution challenges for us. Residents are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes and immediate surroundings, but what is happening here runs counter to the concept of living the good life promised by the government. Where is the recently elected NDC representative? Where is the Environmental Protection Agency? Where is the Ministry of Communi-ties? Are they enjoying their well-to-do homes and neighbourhoods while ordinary citizens suffer?
Most disheartening is the fact that the truck drivers of these two services seem totally bereft of any sense of responsibility and value and what it cost taxpayers to build this road and their residences and to maintain their parapets. More often than not they drive these trucks at high speed which poses additional danger for residents and their property. I believe the time is ripe for government to take into consideration the social responsibility and other pertinent records of companies before it awards contracts to them. Clearly, we cannot have a situation where companies are involved in the destruction of public infrastructure or other actions that are inimical to government’s goals and at the same time award contracts costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Editor, the dump site by itself presents serious challenges to residents in terms of air pollution, littering and other undesirable conditions which we must face day in and day out. However, as a small comfort I would greatly appreciate it if you can bring the foregoing situation to the attention of the relevant authority with a view to preventing the further destruction of our roads, improving air quality, reducing the noise level and eliminating the risk of accidents by speeding garbage trucks. Main-taining good health and a clean environment are prerequisites for the development of strong communities.
Yours faithfully,
Derick Lowe
