Making the clean-up campaign sustainable

I was impressed with the amount of volunteers, the several trucks and other heavy equipment made available by contractors and the numerous truckloads of old fridges, stoves and other large items moved that householders find difficult to dispose of and have them stored for years.

My congratulations to the Minister of Local Government, the Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation and all those who made this possible.

National clean-up campaigns are not new.

They started under the NAR in 1987, attempted under the UNC and now continuing under the present administration.

The real challenge however is how do we make this process sustainable.

We cannot wait for a change of administration or an enterprising Minister of Local Government to have the next one while bulk waste is piled up.

I am aware that local government bodies would sometimes attempt this process, but not to the extent we have in the present campaign. The corporations have the equipment and the manpower.

The problem lies in a coordinated effort with the various communities.

Certainly, the corporations cannot do this for individual householders, but it can be done when a community is organised and ready.

In this regard, at the launch on Saturday, in the acknowledgments made, no chairman of a community council was acknowledged, although there are several active community councils in the area. I believe this is the way to proceed and it would obviate the need for clean-up campaigns to occur only on changes of administration or when we have an enthusiastic minister.

By getting the community councils involved would enhance the spirit and essence of local government which presently is largely form and structure.

The involvement of the people in decisions that affect their basic needs is the true essence of meaningful local government.

Perhaps the Local Government Reform Committee can take up this challenge in the implementation of the proposals for reform.

This does not require any legislative changes or additional funding.

Lennox Sankersingh via emai