AHEAD of the busy Christmas season in Guyana, the garbage situation in the country’s capital continues to worsen. This has been observed in several sectors of the city with waste in residential and commercial areas piling up and being left on the roads.

According to the councilor representing the Popular Progressive Civic Party (PPP/C) in the mayor’s office and city council of Georgetown, Alfonso De Armas, he is not surprised by the garbage situation. De Armas noted that the council has been run by the APNU for decades and said the city’s condition has only worsened.

He believes that a strategic approach is needed to address this issue.

“The garbage problem and many other problems require a clear and strategic approach, both financial and operational, which the current council seems unable or unwilling to implement,” De Armas told the Sunday Chronicle.

He noted that while potential central government intervention could offer temporary relief, a clear plan must be drawn up starting with the council’s finances.

De Armas noted that the city is currently more than 60 days behind on payments to its solid waste contractors, raising the question of how contractors are expected to meet their responsibilities when the city fails to meet its own obligations. Additionally, he highlighted that the city allocates about 70 percent of its revenue to an “inflated and inefficient” payroll, leaving few funds for critical services such as garbage collection.

“Without a fundamental restructuring of both the city’s finances and its priorities, this problem will continue to resurface.”
A few months ago, De Armas expressed concern about the APNU majority-controlled council’s approval of another extension of the city’s contracts with several garbage collection companies. At the time he criticized the council’s approach to waste management, calling it inadequate and short-sighted.

He also noted the imminent expiration of one-year contracts with key waste management companies, such as Cevons Waste Management Services and Puran Brothers Disposal Incorporated, and emphasized that the council did not present a clear plan to ensure the continued collection and disposal of waste. Despite being aware for months of upcoming contract expirations, De Armas argued that the council had not developed a comprehensive strategy, and that PPP/C council members’ efforts to address the issue were allegedly blocked.

De Armas expressed displeasure with the decision to extend the contracts for another year, warning that such short-term solutions leave the city vulnerable to contractors pulling out. He warned that relying solely on contract extensions could lead to a garbage crisis in the capital if contractors decide to discontinue their services.