Missing manhole covers attract attention

Aug 07, 2008 News

In an effort to halt the removal of manhole covers around Georgetown, the President of the Scrap Metal Association of Guyana, Percy Cole, has advised scrap metal dealers to desist from buying these covers.

Cole said that many ‘junkies’ were stealing these manhole covers and reselling them to scrap metal dealers in the city.

The removal of these covers poses threats to both pedestrians and vehicles, noted Cole, as pedestrians may fall into the open manholes, or vehicles may damage their chassis after driving into them. “As scrap metal dealers, we should not destroy the country,” Cole said.

With Carifesta X on the horizons for Guyana, Cole reminded dealers that as Guyanese it was necessary for them to portray the best the country had to offer. Missing manhole covers, Cole explained, would not paint a good picture of Guyana for visitors.

Cautioning dealers, Cole said that President Bharrat Jagdeo had allowed the trade in scrap metal to begin again, and if dealers keep on buying these manhole covers then the Head of State may once again outlaw the trade of scrap metal.

Cole also appealed to dealers to stop loading containers on the parapets of the city. He admonished dealers not to leave scrap metal on the parapets. Doing so is detrimental to the roads, Cole said.

He went on to say that loading containers on the parapets, or leaving scrap metal on the parapets was against the law.

According to Cole, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had made the suggestion to scrap metal dealers to rent a yard or a piece of land where they could store and load containers with scrap metal.

Cole said that there would be a General Meeting of the Scrap Metal Association of Guyana on August 13. He called on all dealers, both members of the Association and non-members, to attend the meeting.

The Association would be better able to represent the rights of scrap metal dealers and workers if they should come forward and join the Association.