As the city of Georgetown continues to grapple with the enormous costs and logistical challenges for solid waste management, Mayor Alfred Mentore has committed to supporting the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to find a resolve.
The city spends nearly $500 million annually on waste removal alone.
Mentore told the News Room on Tuesday that recent discussions between himself, the city council and the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, collaborative steps were explored to enhance waste collection, disposal efficiency, and overall cleanliness in the city.
“…I did indicate to her that I am ready and willing to work with her as the Mayor to ensure that we could have a better city, better surroundings,” Mentore said.
The Mayor emphasised the importance of joint efforts, pointing out that while the city dedicates substantial resources to waste management, key infrastructural support, such as additional skip bins and compactors, is still needed.
He said that the Minister has responded positively, conducting site visits and directing her technical staff to assess the situation firsthand.
“It’s a situation where we need to have that joint collaboration.
“It’s a situation where we need to be able to work with whatever resources we have, whatever resources the government will bring forth, we
“We are committed to creating a cleaner and more sustainable Georgetown,” the Mayor said.
The discussions also touched on the allocation of temporary government workers, particularly the “10-day workers,” and how these workers can be strategically assigned and managed to support the city’s sanitation needs, especially around markets and high-traffic areas.
“We’re asking how some of those persons could be allocated to us as how we could administer them and how we could make that relationship work for us, around the markets and how we can keep those places cleaner,” he said.
He said both parties agree on the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, one that includes not just the city and the ministry, but also the citizens, to improve waste practices and maintain public spaces.
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