LINMINE distressed over dumping of garbage in Linden

The Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) has raised concerns over the indiscriminate dumping of garbage in key locations in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Berbice).

General Manager of LINMINE, Emmet Alves, has said he blames the thoughtless dumping of garbage by Lindeners for the hastening deterioration and stymieing of repair works to key bridges in the bauxite-mining community. Alves said he is outraged by the oxen-like stubbornness of residents who turn a deaf ear to repeated pleas by officials of the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC), the Bridge Committee, and LINMINE.
“We have…identified an area, not very far away, that the Council provided for residents to dump their garbage and the Council can remove it weekly. This suggestion has not been taken on board, so we continue to struggle with getting residents not to dump around the bridge,” he said.
LINMINE has said that restrictions imposed by the Public Health Ministry to counter the contagious and deadly COVID-19 pandemic have stalled plans by the Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) Bridge Committee.
The intervention of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) to help the LM&TC to solve the garbage crisis has borne little fruit, Alves admitted.
The General Manager said this is done every month to the tune of three to four million dollars to helping the Council with its upkeep of the town.
“Nothing has materialised,” the disappointed LINMINE official said. “We have even suggested for the strategic placement of large bins…for residents to use; but the Council, while embracing the idea, informed us that they have no place to access such bins,” Alves explained.
Alves underscored that a contractor is currently manufacturing skip bins, which hopefully residents would use to dispose of household refuse.
The wanton dumping of garbage helps hasten the rotting of structures and delays effective and efficient maintenance of bridges, Alves explained, referring to the Linden-Wismar Bridge linking the two Region 10 communities.
So far, officials are maximising on the ongoing national COVID-influenced curfew to fix the problem.
“We have fewer people on the road, and more are using the bridge; so the situation will afford us an opportunity…to be able to better monitor what goes on around the bridge. The public must understand that their actions have long term and significant impacts on the bridge’s operation,” the LINMINE official argued.
He warned residents that the company would be forced to use tougher measures to ensure compliance with the rules and help preserve the life of the bridge.
The Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, which is just over 50 years old, was last repaired in 2005. Earlier this month, Alves had reported that as repairs were being done on the bridge, the discovery is that more repairs are needed at various sections of the structure.
The vertical supports and horizontal beams under the carriageway are in very bad shape due to age, and they need urgent attention, but the vagaries of the weather have been exacerbating the situation.