The Government Information Agency (GINA) recently released a statement saying that garbage was a sign of development, accompanied by a picture of a grinning Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker next to a large trash pile. Over the years, we have heard similar statements about what constitutes progress, with the number of vehicles on the roadways and new buildings being touted as key indicators.
Some Guyanese believe this crap; however, garbage piles, vehicles, and buildings are not signs of development. The fact is that heaps of garbage in the streets is a clear indicator of broken systems of governance and accountability, a health hazard, a deterrent to tourists, and an embarrassment to the national image. Garbage is nothing to be proud of
