President David Granger is watering the tree he planted in Bartica on National Tree Planting Day, when he called for a 'green revolution'
THE budding community of Bartica will, on April 23, 2016, officially be declared a town, as the Government fulfils a 179-year Ordinance made by the then British Government.The Ordinance was made on April 23, 1837. As such, this is set to be an immensely historic occasion.
One of the bins provided by the Government has been placed outside of the Bartica Hospital
With its first Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Council, its highly anticipated status of township and unsurprisingly renewed political will, Bartica is set to be modelled as a town to be emulated by all others.
Under the guidance of President Granger, the town will be transformed to reflect a “green, clean and pristine” municipality. This welcome transformation will go hand in hand with the administrative and other changes occurring there.
Bartica will be the capital centre of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and its development will be driven through green, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly initiatives.
This is the vision of President David Granger, and he intends to implement this vision in all the towns across Guyana. Bartica will be the flagship of this new development thrust.
New drains are being constructed along the roadways
‘Going green’ involves reduction and subsequent discontinuation of the use of fossil fuels, and the adoption of clean renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydropower. It also entails a comprehensive solid waste disposal system, minimising the use of Styrofoam and plastics, planting of trees and mangroves, and clean potable water sources, among other initiatives.
Most of all, focus must be placed on implementing a change in the culture of the residents, which will bring about a renewed sense of responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.
Newly-appointed Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, has targeted giving Bartica its needed face-lift, which began last year under the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which he headed prior to the Local Government Elections (LGE).
A gazebo at Third Avenue Beach was refurbished with assistance from the private sector in Bartica
Parapets and drains have been cleaned, and monuments and parks have been restored with the assistance of corporate citizens, including the management of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).
“Bartica was a forgotten place. This is the first time we have a President who places Bartica first; the first time we have a President who visits Bartica so often…. We are working very hard, the citizens are very receptive to the change; and we can look forward to a clean, green and pristine Bartica in the near future,” Mayor Gifford Marshall has said.
WASTE DISPOSAL
Among the major challenges in the overall cleanliness of the small town, and the region as a whole, is waste disposal. Marshall admits that some residents in Bartica are very delinquent in the way they dispose of their garbage. He said that systems can and will be implemented, but systems will prove ineffective if residents refuse to change their mindsets.
“We have to get individuals to understand that they cannot continue to dispose (of) their garbage on the parapets, and burn it right there. They need to understand that they cannot take (their) garbage into the alleyways and leave it there. We need a mindset change, and we have a campaign to launch against it, but it remains a major crisis (for) us,” the Mayor has said.
Land clearing and land filling works are ongoing
He noted that persons who ply their trade rearing cattle and other animals need to understand that the old practice of leaving their dead animals on the sides of the roadways or in streets, to be removed at the expanse of the Council, will no longer be tolerated.
As part of the thrust for a cleaner, greener Bartica, the town has received from the Government a compactor truck, two excavators, and a number of garbage bins to aid the efforts of the Town Council. Additionally, residents are provided with garbage bins free of cost, all in an effort to curb the garbage problem and beautify the environment.
The Council is currently working with the Government, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the regional authorities to identify an appropriate area for a waste disposal site; but this is also a challenge, since Bartica is essentially surrounded by water and has several streams and hills.
Nevertheless, once a proper dump site has been established and a garbage collection system schedule is developed, residents can expect even more noticeable changes in Bartica and its environs.
ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR LITTERING
The new Mayor has said that, during the initial township phase, the Council will be lenient and choose suitable means of education and awareness of proper garbage disposal practices. In due course, more serious steps will be taken to ensure that cleanliness of the town is maintained and the effort is worthy of being emulated.
“Laws will need to be enforced. Bartica is a small place, and it is interesting to see sometimes what sections of the business community do with their garbage…
“Why would you live in Bartica and think that you can wash a front-end loader on Third Avenue Beach? People swim there!” Marshall has said. “That is our prime regatta hot spot. Why would you take your personal garbage, as a businessman, and go to a section of First Avenue and dispose of it there? So there will come a time when we will have to start charging some of these people,” he reasoned.
In terms of sustainability, Marshall said the new Council intends to adopt a proactive approach to its work, whereby unclogging of drains, cleaning of parapets and open spaces, renovation of facilities, and the general beautification of the community will be done on a continuous basis, rather than allow the complete deterioration and overgrowth of bushes before commencing work.
The Mayor is of the view that a change in the attitude of the people is key to maintaining the beauty of the new town. “Once citizens understand their responsibility in keeping the environment clean, and practise proper waste disposal, we will be on the right course, and we will have about 60 per cent of our work cut out,” he said.
The Council will embark on a major infrastructural overhaul to ensure that its road networks, municipal market, bridges, airport and other public facilities are of a standard that is beneficial to Guyana’s first “green, clean and pristine” town. (Ministry of the Presidency feature)
