By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Despite ongoing efforts by the Government and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to restore sections of the capital to acceptable standards of cleanliness, conditions in Georgetown continue to raise serious environmental and public health concerns.
Several communities across the city remain littered with uncollected garbage, clogged drains, and overgrown parapets, creating what residents and observers describe as an unfolding environmental crisis. While cleanup exercises and public sanitation initiatives have been rolled out in recent months, their impact appears uneven and, in some areas, short-lived.
Residents have expressed frustration, noting that refuse often accumulates shortly after cleanup crews depart. Poor waste disposal practices, inconsistent garbage collection, and blocked drainage systems have contributed to unsightly surroundings and heightened concerns about flooding, mosquito breeding, and disease transmission.
Environmental advocates argue that while ad hoc cleanup campaigns are helpful, they do not address the underlying issues plaguing the city. These include inadequate waste management infrastructure, limited enforcement of sanitation regulations, and insufficient sustained public education on proper waste disposal.
City officials have acknowledged the challenges, pointing to resource constraints and the need for greater cooperation from residents and businesses. The central government has also indicated its willingness to support efforts to improve Georgetown’s sanitation, but critics say stronger coordination and long-term planning are urgently needed.
As Georgetown continues to grapple with these conditions, calls are growing for a comprehensive, sustained approach to environmental management—one that combines regular waste collection, bylaw enforcement, public accountability, and civic responsibility—to prevent the city from sliding further into decline.
