Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 22, 2015 News
Armed with brooms, rakes, gloves and garage bags, a group of youths says the change of government has motivated them to assist in changing the face of the garbage-filled Capital city.
The youths of the ‘Let’s Keep Georgetown Clean’ initiative were the ones who stepped in to clean up the mess left behind on Saturday, after Brigadier David Arthur Granger was sworn in as the country’s President at the Public Buildings, Brickdam, Georgetown.
Since then, the movement has been gaining momentum and its founder, Sherod Duncan says this will continue until Georgetown is restored to the Garden City it once was.
Speaking to Kaieteur News, Duncan said that they are excited about the change of government and are working to do their part in transforming Georgetown to what it has the potential to be.
Already, the Guyana Chapter of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and Caribbean Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) has come on board with the project, while popular business places like Church’s and Palm Court have pitched in financial support.
Duncan explained that the work is being executed by youths on a voluntary basis. He reported that thus far 50 youths have joined in and stand ready to continue working to improve the city.
According to him, the group will be focusing on small- and medium-sized projects that will help to keep the city clean.
He told Kaieteur News that he was quite excited to see the newly-elected President out on his second day in office assisting the City Council and the Ministry of Public Works to get the city clean. Duncan said too that he already made an overture to the new government to pitch in.
“We will also be looking to take down the campaign materials for all parties,” Duncan told this newspaper as he noted that it had, in the past, been customary for party paraphernalia to remain in public places long after elections would have concluded.
Tomorrow the group will be out working in the heart of the city, as clean-up action is planned for the entire Regent Street, and on Camp Street, between Hadfield and Lamaha Streets.
“Indeed there is a lot of goodwill in the air and we’re hoping to effect a change in the mindset of the people,” he said, alluding to the garbage culture in Guyana which has left the roadways, pavements, yards, drains and public areas in general being dominated by litter.
To support his notion of goodwill, Duncan pointed to the fact that he had started the Facebook page for the movement since 2013 and it had garnered less than 100 followers, but since the clean-up activity last Saturday at Parliament Building, it has jumped to over 1500.
Duncan is overwhelmed at the support that is pouring in from civil society, pointing out that there was even a lecture and some of his students as well a pastor and members of his East Ruimveldt church have signaled their intent to join in on the activity.
“The thing that is driving us are the beliefs of two powerful men,” he said, as he quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s popular saying “Be the change you want to see in the world” and former United States President John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
“We can’t see the President out and do nothing. We must help,” said Duncan.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]