A cleanup programme will begin at Yarrow Dam and Sideline Dam from Monday, after residents raised concerns over accumulated garbage following a halt in waste collection.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand announced the initiative during a walkabout in the area on Tuesday, where she met with residents and observed conditions firsthand at their request.
She said the lack of garbage collection stemmed from the interruption of services previously provided through the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.
“Walking through, saying hello to the residents here and hearing their concerns, one of which is that there is no garbage collection because the private garbage collector paid by the City Council has stopped, and it appears that the City Council didn’t put something to replace that,” Manickchand said.
She warned that the uncollected waste posed environmental and public health concerns.
“And this is what is happening.
This is waste in the community that hoards a lot of rodents and vectors and just makes people’s lives miserable,” she said.
While committing to the cleanup effort, the minister appealed to residents and businesses to take greater responsibility for keeping their communities clean.
“So we got to do better as residents and as business people in these communities. We have to be more responsible,” she said.
Manickchand said the cleanup operations, described as the “Big Lift” initiative, will commence on Monday, adding that residents will be provided with a garbage collection schedule.
“The Big Lift will happen in Yarrow Dam and Sideline Dam beginning Monday next week. You will see a schedule about when you can put out your garbage. Please do that for us so we could reach,” she said.
