RESIDENTS of the township of Linden, are benefiting from the Regional Community Clean-Up and Bulk Waste Removal Programme which was implemented on January 28, 2015. Through this exercise, residents are given the opportunity to dispose of their bulk waste free of cost.
However, last Wednesday, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker received a letter from the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman, Mr. Orrin Gordon, indicating that the Council had passed a resolution during a statutory meeting on January 28th, 2015 (the same day the Cleanup My Country Programme commenced in the township) ordering that the project which had commenced, “be ceased immediately”.
In the letter, the Chairman claimed that “the Municipality and its Councillors and by extension the residents of the various communities were not fully consulted.”
These claims were a surprise to the Minister and his Clean-Up My Country Programme Implementing Team since on January 16, 2015, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Abena Moore, the Ministry’s Special Projects Officer, Mr. Bramhanand Singh, Municipal Services Officer, Ms. Nandrani Harricahrran and the Regional Coordinator for the Clean-Up exercises, Mr. Ryan Toolsiram met with the Town Clerk, Ms. Jonellor Bowen, the Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Yollanda Hilliman, two Councillors, Mr. Gordon Calender and Ferne Mc Koy, and the Superintendent of Works, Mr. Dwayne Fraser at the Regional Democratic Council’s boardroom.
This meeting was similar to the meetings conducted by the team in the other Regions which benefited from the clean-up programme.
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, Ms. Hilliman informed the team that Mr. Gordon was unable to attend the meeting due to another engagement, and so the IMC Chairman was excused from the meeting.
At the meeting, the Ministry’s representatives engaged the Councillors in discussion about the Regional Clean-Up My Country Programme and how the programme will be executed. The team also told participants in the meeting that under the Regional Clean-Up Programme, emphasis would be placed on removing solid waste from public spaces and residential bulk waste.
The clean-up campaign as it took place in Linden
Also discussed was the procuring of assets under the Regional Programme for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities across the country so they can sustain the Clean-Up Programme within the respective Regions.
The Ministry’s team also solicited the help of the Councillors in mobalising the workforce, trucks and other equipment to remove the debris and in assisting with logistic arrangements. In addition, the Municipality was also asked to assist with the drive by public service announcements and the distribution of fliers to residents.
Moreover, at the meeting, two Councillors enquired why the Regional Clean-Up was being done in that manner since they were of the view that it would have been fashioned after the Georgetown Clean-Up Programme where individual contracts were awarded to interested community members.
However, it was clearly stated that the Regional Programme was different from the Georgetown exercise and what would be executed in Region 10 was no different from what was done in the other Regions.
In examining the Chairman and his Councillors letter and the timeliness of the order, Minister Whittaker and his team see a plot to stymie the Clean-up Programme in Linden. There seems to be a deliberate plot by the Council to deprive the citizens of the benefits of the programme, and from earning an income.
Moreover, by being a hindrance to the programme, the Chairman along with the Councillors are encouraging persons to dispose of their bulk waste in the environment.
Similar to the other Regions, the Ministry advertised the programme and the schedule on radio, television and in the newspapers several days prior to the commencement of the works. In addition, the team appeared on a popular social commentary programme on the town’s popular radio station where listeners called in to enquire about the cleanup programme. Yet the Chairman mentioned in the letter that the residents were not properly consulted nor informed about this programme.
Further, Minister Whittaker will like to remind the public that the Municipality in 2014 under the Clean-Up My Country Programme received a brush cutter which should have been used to remove excess vegetation from parapets and other public spaces as well as a fogging machine to aid in their fogging programme.
In addition, the Municipality will be in receipt of a mini-excavator which will be used for drainage works in the township and to deploy within the region when there is a need. These assets were acquired with the aim of helping the Council sustain its own clean-up efforts. When the brush cutter was handed over, Minister Whittaker asked the Municipality to present a work programme of how the brush cutter will be used. To date, the Councillors have not submitted such a programme.
Moreover, Minister Whittaker is concerned about the deeper motive of this cease order since the Council waited until the first day after the exercise had commenced to halt the programme.
Meanwhile, the Ministry’s team has continued to maintain its schedule of community clean-up and bulk waste removal and residents over the last few days had embraced the programme by putting out their bulk waste.