Georgetown: The Local Government Ministry today inked three contracts for the execution of additional projects under the Guyana Solid Waste Management Improvement Project which is being funded by the Government and the India, Brazil, South Africa Cooperation (IBSA). Witnessing the signing was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Brazilian Ambassador, Lineu Pupo de Paula and UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Chisa Mikami. This one-year project commenced in April, with the IBSA providing financing to the tune of US $1.9M with the Government of Guyana contributing US $475,000 in kind contribution. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development with support from the UNDP. Three broad areas will be addressed under this programme: procurement of machinery and equipment for collection and management of solid waste, expansion and rehabilitation of a number of markets and market tarmacs to assist with illegal vending, and an intensive public awareness programme which would be done through fliers, print advertisement and ‘edutainment’. The three contracts signed today are for the construction of a tarmac at Annandale, East Coast Demerara at the cost of $14.4M; construction of a sanitary block at Annandale at the cost of $2.2M and extension of the New Amsterdam Market at the cost of $3.1M. Thus far under the project, two compactor trucks and two mini excavators have been procured, the latter, have already been delivered and were purchased at the cost of US$ 108,737 (22.4M). A total of 30 garbage collection bins were also were procured at the cost of US $12,000. Rehabilitation works on a number of markets are ongoing. These include: the Anna Regina Market for which a contract to the tune of US $19, 600 has been awarded. Works are nearing completion. The Rosignol Market is being renovated at the cost of US $70,945. The contract was awarded to General Contractor Company Limited which has already mobilised to commence works. The award for works to be done at the Rose Hall Market was awarded to Memorex Enterprises at the cost of US $37,931. Meanwhile, work on the Linden Market is already 50 percent complete, and it is being done at the cost of US $53,587; while work on the Lethem Market within the Ireng/Sawariwau Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is 60 percent complete. This contract was awarded to Theodore Faria at a value of US $36, 430. A contract for the construction of a chain-link fence and gate at the Diamond Market Tarmac was awarded to the tune of US $20,250. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker in his remarks said that the Government has taken a menu of measures to deal with solid waste management in Guyana.“Our interventions in addressing this issue go beyond the cleanup my Guyana activities that are ongoing; we have been looking for other opportunities by which we can support the clean-up activities,” the Minister said.
Roadside vending has been a significant contributor to the solid waste problem and this project provides the opportunity for the establishment of market facilities where they currently do not exist, like Annandale.
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