By 
Pollution remains a major problem in Guyana including garbage dumping and littering around Georgetown, because it is essentially seen as a ‘cosmetic’ issue in comparison to the myriad of problems that blight the country. Little is done or said about it. However, while it may be seen as something trivial it is directly and indirectly responsible for a host of health and environmental issues.
I’ve written about my own battle with air pollution caused by a neighbouring unregulated business; a restaurant where the food was cooked outdoor over a fireside (wood and kerosene) and the garbage burnt on the road (the garbage burning is no longer occurring). Due to the smoke from the garbage and wood burning I was constantly sick and still the issue over the method of cooking isn’t over. Although, my neighbourhood is residential with the typical lot size being 50*100 feet, meaning houses are very near to each other. Often, councillors are unwilling to regulate business premises (private residence and small business on the same lot) which might be affecting nearby residents or causing deliberate pollution by not having the right equipment.
Due to endemic corruption and an unwillingness to change, so-called laws and regulations are implemented in a discriminatory manner. For instance, many restaurants and bars owned by foreigners including Chinese who may be citizens or foreigners have kitchen ventilation systems installed. However, the same cannot be said for many businesses owned by locals although, whether local or foreign nearby residents are affected through no fault of theirs. The fact remains that corruption together with pollution and lack of zoning are country-wide issues that are left to fester.
Attitudes toward pollution in Guyana
There is much talk about pollution caused by billion-dollar foreign companies in Guyana; pollution occurring far out in the ocean or in places that are not easily accessible to the public. While this is commendable why should I as an ordinary citizen care when nothing or very little is done about the pollution that has affected me and others like me?
I have literally been mocked on numerous occasions for daring to complain about pollution especially air pollution. Due to allergies and other respiratory complaints, I am most affected by dirty air but pollution in all forms affect the health of Guyanese. Persons with degrees in the sciences have laughed at me for talking about the health problems caused by the inhalation of toxic air from garbage burning as if it’s quack science. Now that foreign oil companies are in Guyana everyone is now being educated about climate change and air pollution caused by the oil companies through the media. I don’t have any issues with this but the question is, ‘Why should the ordinary person who lives in a polluted environment which none of the environmental, government or media personnel care about, be bothered with pollution in remote places which does not directly affect him/her?’
(This is a very busy road which the personnel from several international organisations on Brickdam use.)
Many affluent persons who bleat now about pollution caused by oil companies and who ‘may’ have their own agendas live in gated/exclusive communities and travel in fancy private vehicles. They don’t have people burning garbage next to them or walk on streets with piles of garbage and nasty, polluted waterways. I believe that if the environment and health of the ordinary people who are affected by pollution is given priority then more will care and be involved in issues that affect the country as a whole.
Garbage dumping and littering around Georgetown
Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and most important city. The headquarters of business and government entities are located here. International NGOs and the diplomatic community are located in the capital. If there is only one location of an important organisation then it will be in Georgetown therefore, it is expected that the capital city should be clean and well-maintained since it’s the face of Guyana. However, the reality is very different and garbage dumping and littering around Georgetown continue to be a problem.
Most businesses and many government entities are located on or near Regent Street (the main shopping street). Every time I go into the city, I end up walking on Regent St. but I am always heading to particular stores so I hardly ever stop and observe the place which seems weird but countless others operate the same way. We just head off to our favourite stores or go window shopping without really observing the environment. And given that Guyana is not a tourist hub you won’t see people with cameras just clicking away.
But one day while giving a beggar some change, I actually looked around and garbage was in the uncovered gutters and on the road around this man. It’s everywhere but like everyone else I don’t see because it has become a normal part of the environment. I took out my phone and snapped a few pictures but then quickly dropped it into my bag. As I mentioned, you won’t see people taking photos and when one does suddenly a bunch of people are staring at you. Maybe, I am too self-conscious but I managed to take a few.
Not only is garbage dumping and littering around Georgetown unsightly but there are a number of health and environmental issues that can arise. The point of sharing these photos is to highlight a problem that should not be normalised. Once on a plane to Guyana I had a conversation with a foreigner who wanted to know more about the country. We spoke for a few hours and I mentioned the good, bad and ugly parts. He was shocked that I was so frank but I said to him that if there is a pile of garbage lying on the road and nobody cleans it up or recognise it as a problem then it becomes a normal part of the environment and is not seen as a problem.
