City seeking new ways to curb garbage dumping

The Mayor and City Council will meet with stakeholders tomorrow in its chambers to discuss measures to be put in place to curb the improper disposal of garbage around Georgetown.

“It is clear that we are in a serious garbage crisis in the city,” acting Town Clerk Royston King told Stabroek News on Tuesday. Even if corporate and other citizens pay all outstanding sums to the City Council it would not be enough to address this situation and offer all the other services it is expected to provide, King said.

As a result, the council plans to engage stakeholders such as businesses, churches, social and other organizations, agencies, groups and individuals to find a way forward. “This is a collective effort to reflect on this negative garbage crisis and to take steps to deal with it… we will discuss, deliberate and set out a plan of action to begin activities to clear up this city,” King said, adding that mobilizing financial and other resources, including vehicles and allied equipment will be discussed. “Already, a number of corporate citizens have contacted me with pledges of commitment and resources for the anticipated sustainable clean up,” he added.

He also announced that a massive clean-up exercise is set to start in another week in the main commercial areas of Georgetown. A huge public awareness education campaign will also be held and an anti-litter unit established by the constabulary unit of the M&CC. King said that with the use of the media, the council will develop a “name and shame” feature of litterbugs and other persons who are bent on damaging the natural environment.

The meeting will start at 10am and will be hosted in the council’s chambers where King, Mayor Hamilton Green, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee Ranwell Jordan are expected to attend.