Clean-up exercise commences in Albouystown

Following the recent flooding in Albouystown, Georgetown, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) donated equipment to the residents to begin a general clean-up of the area.

The CDC also assisted with a garbage truck to transport the refuse to the dumpsite.

This is according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency which noted that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, a team of representatives from CDC and the Mayor and City Council (MCC) on Saturday paid a follow-up visit to the area to commence sanitation works.

The clean-up exercise is being spearheaded by the CDC, in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the private sector and residents, the Ministry said.

In his charge to residents assembled at the junction of Hill and James Streets, Minister Harmon reminded them that it is every individual’s responsibility to keep their surroundings clean.

“We want to encourage all communities to come together and clean up their environment, ultimately it is you in the community that will be affected when it is not clean” he was quoted as saying.

Mr Harmon told residents that the CDC will be donating some equipment to the community so that cleaning exercises can be conducted regularly to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Meanwhile, Director General (Ag) of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig said GAICO Construction and General Services Incorporated, which is one of the stakeholders in the Civil Defence Network, has also thrown its support behind the clean-up.

The CDC also collaborated with the MCC Constituency 10 Councillors to galvanise residents into action.

“This is a community-based initiative and we want to ensure that this doesn’t happen only in Albouystown, but other communities would come on board and help clean up their environment. The approach is more in keeping with the Civil Defence Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and what we’re doing here is reducing the risk with the work being done,” the Ministry quoted him as saying.

A total of six blocks, thirteen canals and alleyways are scheduled to be cleaned.

It was noted that three blocks have already been cleared and the other nine blocks will be completed during the course of the month.