Minister Manickchand: Guyana cannot grow beautifully if filthy culture persists

“We cannot be a country that grows beautifully but we are filthy,” Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand said on Wednesday, stressing the importance of proper waste management as Guyana experiences rapid infrastructure growth.
Speaking at a consultation on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Bill at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Manickchand said the event marked an important first step in a process that has been many years in the making.
“It would be a terrible thing to have schools being built, but you can’t dispose of your garbage. We cannot be a country that grows beautifully but we are filthy. Even as we do legislation, you will see us in the communities trying to make sure we are addressing community issues on waste disposal. Right now, we’re building or have begun the process to build modern landfill sites, taking into account not only how to dispose garbage,” the minister said.
The bill is expected to replace outdated laws governing the management of industrial waste. The consultation brought together regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Council representatives to provide feedback, share insights, and contribute to discussions aimed at strengthening the proposed legislation.
Consultant Rommel St. Hill, discussing the gap analysis and findings of Guyana’s solid waste management regulatory regime, said there will be continuous engagement with communities across the country.
“You want something that is actionable and workable within the country. This analysis is important because it brings the evidence to the table. It is not simply theorising that the bill is old and the laws are outdated,” he said.
Permanent Secretary within the ministry, Miguel Choo-Kang, said the legislative review is both timely and necessary, as it seeks to modernise existing arrangements, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms across all ten administrative regions.
Choo-Kang added that while the gap analysis and proposed policy measures provide a strong technical foundation, the effectiveness of the legislation will ultimately depend on informed stakeholder input, particularly on matters of implementation, capacity, coordination, and resourcing.