Georgetown, Guyana – September 30, 2025 – Georgetown’s reputation as a “garbage hub” is no accident, years of negligent waste collection and illegal dumping have turned the capital into a symbol of sanitation failure.
In yet another response to mounting public pressure, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand this afternoon met with Walter Narine, Director of Sanitation at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), to confront the city’s deteriorating state. The Mayor, Alfred Mentore, was absent, out of the jurisdiction.
The meeting was prompted by a surge in visible complaints: overflowing refuse bins, litter-strewn streets, and informal dumping hotspots. Manickchand used the occasion to stress the government’s insistence that communities, especially the capital, embody beauty, hospitality, and civic pride. “We know what the issues are. Let’s get about working towards solutions that involve all stakeholders,” she declared, underscoring that she has little patience for endless debates.
For years, studies and reports have documented the scale of Georgetown’s waste problem. Estimates suggest that the average resident produces about 200 grams of municipal solid waste per day, with half of the city’s waste stream made up of food scraps and other organic matter. Regional and international agencies such as PAHO have repeatedly identified waste management as one of the country’s most pressing urban challenges, pointing to weak infrastructure, irregular collection services, and a lack of treatment facilities for both hazardous and nonhazardous waste. Landfills and informal dumps, often poorly maintained, pose environmental risks and worsen the problem.
City Hall has long argued that financial shortfalls, limited equipment, and public noncompliance add to the crisis. Citizens, meanwhile, complain of unreliable collection schedules and insufficient service coverage. These problems have persisted despite numerous attempts at reform, leaving residents frustrated and skeptical of promises for change.
Despite the history of setbacks, both the Minister and the M&CC expressed renewed resolve. They pledged to design sustainable solutions, restore civic dignity, and rebuild residents’ trust in municipal governance. Whether today’s commitments will bring lasting improvements or fade like earlier promises remains to be seen, but the pressure from frustrated citizens is louder than ever.
