41st anniversary clean-up campaign: GPS urges public to adopt proper waste disposal practices

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has called on citizens to adopt proper garbage disposal practices as part of the country’s drive to maintain a clean and healthy environment. This appeal came in the wake of a nationwide clean-up exercise led by the GPS as part of its 41st Thanksgiving Anniversary celebrations.
The clean-up operation, which began at 06:00h on Sunday, saw prison officers from various locations engaging in environmental activities.
In Georgetown, officers from the Prison Headquarters and the Georgetown and Lusignan prisons worked from Main Street to Kingston Seawall in the capital city. Meanwhile, officers stationed at the Mazaruni prison focused their efforts on the Bartica Beach Front, while those from the Timehri prison tackled areas around the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). In Berbice, the New Amsterdam prison officers conducted their clean-up at the New Amsterdam Recreational Park.
Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, highlighted the need for a cultural shift in attitudes toward littering. He urged the public to embrace cleaner habits and stressed the importance of proper waste disposal to prevent environmental degradation.
“As Guyana continues to prioritise environmental stewardship and community involvement, initiatives like this clean-up serve as a testament to our collective commitment towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all,” Elliot said.
The event is just one of many planned activities in celebration of the GPS’s 41st anniversary. Director Elliot also expressed special appreciation to the prison officers who participated in the environmental effort.
In conjunction with the GPS initiative, the Government of Guyana, led by President Irfaan Ali, has been actively promoting a nationwide cleanup initiative aimed at enhancing the environment and fostering civic responsibility among citizens. Under the banners of “Men on Mission” and “One Guyana,” various stakeholders—including government officials, members of the GPF, and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)—are collaborating with community volunteers to tackle littering and waste management issues nationwide.
Recently, a large-scale environmental enhancement exercise saw participants mobilising across several locations in Guyana. Officials underscored the significance of cleanliness as a civic duty, noting that current littering laws may need strengthening due to an increasing disregard for environmental cleanliness among the public.
Minister of Local Government, Sonia Parag, highlighted the importance of maintaining a clean environment, particularly as the country continues to develop. This initiative aims not only to beautify communities but also to instill a collective sense of pride in sustaining a clean and healthy environment.
In response to growing concerns over littering, recent proposals have been made to enhance anti-littering regulations. The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown outlined plans in 2022 to impose fines ranging from $35,000 to $500,000 for littering offenses, with potential six-month imprisonment for non-payment. An additional fee of $10,000 will be levied for every 24 hours that a fine remains unpaid.
The existing Litter Enforcement Regulations (2013) impose fines of $50,000 to $100,000 for littering in public spaces, with the possibility of a three-month prison sentence for non-compliance. (G9)