Penalise non-compliant businesses only – PSC chair tells M&CC

M&CC’s garbage proposal

Former Private Sector Chairman (PSC) Komal Singh has proposed strict penalties for businesses in Georgetown that dispose of garbage carelessly along the streets.
This came on the heels of recent proposals by Mayor Alfred Mentore for owners of commercial properties in Georgetown to develop garbage disposal plans and possibly provide security deposits for waste management.

According to Singh, the mayor simply needs to enforce the existing rules, stressing that everyone has a responsibility to dispose of garbage responsibly.
He said business owners, in particular, should take pride in maintaining proper waste-disposal practices. He added that greater enforcement of the rules could encourage people to comply, while noting the Government’s ongoing efforts, including the president’s quarterly clean-up campaigns aimed at addressing garbage across the country.
“The mayor just needs to enforce those rules. It is a responsibility of everybody to dispose of garbage in a very responsible manner. All of us as business people, it is a responsibility that each and every one of us should take pride in. And I think if the rules are enforced, I think people will get to like it, given that the Government has been doing a tremendous amount of work, even the president going around the place trying to have a quarterly clean-up campaign.”
He highlighted that some businesses in Georgetown continue to dump garbage indiscriminately and called for stronger enforcement against those found violating waste-disposal regulations.

Non-compliant businesses

He argued that penalties should target non-compliant businesses rather than those already following the rules, noting that many businesses are complying with the requirements.

He also urged the authorities to implement stronger measures to ensure that businesses have the required garbage bins available and adhere to the established regulations.
“I don’t agree with putting a penalty in place for everybody when you have almost 60 per cent of the people who are complying and the next 40 per cent are not in compliance. It doesn’t make sense to penalise those who are in compliance for those non-compliant individuals or businesses. So I think they should really strongly put out some measures to enforce the regulation to make sure that businesses have their bins available.”

Greater responsibility
Singh further urged businesses to dispose of their garbage responsibly rather than dumping it along the roadside or giving it to persons who may take it to vacant properties and dispose of it improperly.
“The city has a lot of power when it comes to enforcement, and I think we should enforce. That’s my humble view as a businessperson.”
The business representative also stressed that businesses must take greater responsibility for managing the waste they generate, including ensuring that adequate garbage receptacles are placed in front of their establishments.
He said businesses that generate larger volumes of garbage should provide bigger receptacles to accommodate their daily waste.
The representative further called for greater collaboration between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Government, saying that with all stakeholders playing their part, the city can be kept clean.
He noted that the Government is currently investing significant resources into efforts to maintain cleanliness in the city, while urging the M&CC to enforce the relevant regulations and business owners to fulfil their responsibilities.
He said such collective efforts could help Guyana achieve its vision of a clean “Garden City” that residents can be proud of.

Security deposit
On Monday, Mayor Mentore proposed that commercial businesses operating in the city be required to develop garbage management plans and provide a security deposit to help address waste-disposal issues associated with their operations.
City Council bylaws require businesses to use covered, movable receptacles, which should be metal or metal-lined in some areas. In Georgetown, business premises are generally expected to use bins of a designated capacity, historically around 12 cubic feet, though modern wheelie-bin standards are increasingly adopted.
Businesses must not dispose of commercial waste in public sidewalk bins or litter bins. It is the responsibility of each business to have a contracted, authorised waste collector or to use approved landfill sites.