This letter is in response to an article written by Tiffny Rhodius in Stabroek News on Monday, March 15, captioned ‘Bartica’s Golden beach becoming a garbage bin.’ The report made reference to a letter from Mr Winston Miller, published in SN on March 4 under the caption ‘Bartica beach should be cleaned every day.’
The entire slant of the story leaves one to wonder, as many Barticans are doing presently, if the letter writer is a firm critic of Bartica and Barticians, seeing that the contents seek to tarnish the historic site where our annual regatta is kept, and also characterize the NDC as a lame duck unable to perform its duties at all. Any telephone conversation with Mr Miller of that kind warranted a proper investigation of the information received, before informing the Guyanese public.
This informant always seems to have a problem with the Regatta and Bartica as a whole whenever the Regatta is due. He has his reasons for doing so.
For your information, once every week the area in question is cleaned by the NDC garbage tractor and trailer. This in no way can stop the rising tide from daily depositing stuff on the beach which is eventually taken care off. As for broken bottles, none are deliberately left there to harm anyone, but obviously small unobservable fragments are left behind. The arrangements discussed with the vendors and Regional Chairman were put aside for others which will bring the desired results through the use of the reputable Lions organization.
Ms Rhodius was told that the informant had made numerous complaints to the NDC about garbage all over Bartica but nothing was being done. Ask him to refer to one such complaint for information’s sake. He never made any. And for your information our garbage tractor works every day of the week from Sunday to Sunday collecting garbage around Bartica. Our collection is even supplemented by the general sanitation garbage truck which works every day too. We won’t claim 80% assurance but our tractor and trailer is out there performing its duties to keep our environment somewhat stable in comparison to some other places.
Yours faithfully
Gerald Joseph
Chairman
Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council
Editor’s note
The report by Ms Rhodius is not based on Mr Miller’s statements alone. She also sought comments from RDC Chairman Holbert Knights and Mr Joseph himself, and their responses were included in the story.
