Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 18, 2017 Editorial
What will it take to get some of us to recognize and accept that it is our responsibility, and not the city or the government or someone else, to make sure that the garbage we produce is disposed of safely and properly?
It isn’t rocket science for citizens to do their part to keep their environment clean.
Successive governments have over the years warned us about the threats to public health and other risks associated with the illegal dumping of garbage.
However, it is clear that the warnings have fallen on deaf ears, which suggests that some of us do not care about the outbreak of diseases.
In certain areas of the city, there is still evidence of indiscriminate garbage disposal, especially around the markets, and along trenches and canals. The highways are littered with fast food plastic containers that were tossed from moving vehicles.
On too many empty lots it is common to find overgrown bushes, old mattresses, stoves, television sets, construction debris or the rotting carcasses of dead animals.
Despite the warnings and threats by the authorities, nothing has been done to put an end to this terrible problem which is causing untold damage to the natural environment and the image of the country.
Such reckless behaviour must end if we want to attract visitors to our shores.
The authorities must do more than issue warnings or threats. Efforts must be made to prosecute offenders in order to send a strong message that illegal dumping of garbage must stop.
Aside from fines, offenders must also be ordered to clean up their garbage and sometimes garbage in other areas, in full view of the public.
The goal is to make sure that zero tolerance will be accorded to those who are guilty. No one must be spared, not even the errant coconut vendors who leave piles of empty shells by the roadside for days after plying their trade. Such callous behaviour must be rooted out from society because it is showing our youths that it is okay to dump garbage anywhere.
Of course this is not the case with all coconut vendors. Some are very tidy and responsible.
They will ply their trade and will thoroughly clean up the area before leaving. But the practice of some of their fellow coconut sellers and other vendors have created an inconvenience for the general public which in essence is an act of social irresponsibility.
The widespread practice of littering in the city and the rural areas of the country speaks to a deeper, underlying problem. It is a reflection that we are not taking pride in ourselves to keep our city and surroundings clean as past generations did.
Littering has demonstrated that as a people, we have become very selfish, uncaring and with little concern for our fellow citizens.
We live in a country today where the individual takes precedence over the community and where everyone is for his or herself. In years gone by, it was the other way around. It was village, community or country before self. We do not have any concern for the welfare of society.
It seems that we are set in our ways and nothing would change that. But whatever we do, we must strive to set good examples for our children.
We should introduce sanitation as a civic course in the curriculum to teach children the importance of cleanliness because it is not happening in the home.
This will instill in them that cleanliness is a personal responsibility to be exercised throughout life.
A cleaner Guyana is a task for everyone. If the saying “cleanliness is next to Godliness” is true, then where are we as a nation?
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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