Pres Ali leads successful national cleanup campaign

…EPA officers to monitor areas for litterbugs

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday led another successful cleanup and beautification exercise across Guyana, and it generated participation from hundreds of volunteers who were willing to work with the President to improve the outlook of their environs.
At Houston and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara, the Head of State, through his Men on Mission (MoM) programme, joined volunteers in the wee hours of the morning to clean the roads, parapets and drains, as well as paint and beautify the median on the highway.
Among those who turned up to support this initiative were Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips; Public Works Minister Juan Edghill; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond; Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud; Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag; Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, and representatives of the Guyana Defence Force and other officials.

The team ensured that key areas, such as Brickdam, Mandela Avenue and the seawalls, were cleaned in Georgetown.
Over in Region One (Barima-Waini), Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal joined residents of Port Kaituma for the national cleanup exercise. NDC Chairman Keith Parker and ranks of the Port Kaituma Police Station also joined residents in the exercise at the Kumaka Waterfront and market area.
These efforts are geared at promoting cleanliness among the Guyanese populace, and fostering a sense of tidiness while ensuring the environs are safer for residents or passersby. In the past, highly-trafficked or unoccupied areas have been littered with garbage. This is also the case for waterways, thereby obstructing irrigation and drainage. Derelicts along the roadways have also been another issue.
Meanwhile, heavy focus has been placed on enforcement, to ensure that the country remains clean. A notice was later released after the cleanup, indicating that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be conducting continuous patrol and surveillance monitoring within the areas cleaned.
It added, “The public is hereby reminded that EPA officers are authorized to issue clean up orders and institute fines for littering, derelict vehicles etc, in public spaces in keeping with the EPA Act Cap 20:05.”
President Ali’s MOM initiative, also called the “1000 Men on Mission”, has been deeply involved in these activities over the years. The initiative brings together 1000 men across the country to work in communities in eradicating hunger and to uplift those emotionally and socially affected.
The initiative also aims at changing every society and bringing a positive life to every single community. MoM also seeks to work against violence, and to make men better at being good and responsible men, while at the same time developing responsible boys in society. (G12)