Dear Editor,
Guyana stands at a defining moment in its history.
We are a rainforest nation, absorbing vast amounts of carbon and contributing to what the world recognises as the lungs of the Earth. We are blessed with abundant rainfall, powerful rivers, extraordinary biodiversity, and the majestic Mount Roraima as a symbol of our natural grandeur.
Yet during my visit in February 2026, I was deeply troubled by what I observed: plastic waste along roadways, clogged drains, littered coastal banks, scrap metal and discarded appliances in every village on the West Bank of Demerara as I walked around and household garbage bags torn open by stray dogs.
This issue is emotional for me because I am Guyanese. Wherever my family lived, we kept our surroundings clean because it reflected who we were. I want to feel that same pride everywhere in the country of my birth.
I also witnessed something encouraging: well-maintained recreational projects associated with the First Lady’s initiatives. These demonstrate that when manpower, machinery, and oversight are properly organised, clean and attractive public spaces are achievable in Guyana.
My respectful suggestion is that when equipment and workers are mobilised to develop a site, drain clearing, roadside weeding, and waste removal should extend to the entire surrounding village. The additional cost would be minimal; the impact would be lasting.
Infrastructure shapes behaviour. When bins are absent, litter becomes predictable. Guyana could introduce sturdy, locally manufactured wooden public bins with lids — securely fixed to the ground and fitted with removable liners. Such bins would not only provide practical disposal points but symbolise our forest heritage and national pride.
At the same time, structured waste systems should be introduced. Deposits on plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminium cans, and even plastic shopping bags should be paid at purchase and refunded upon return. When waste has value, it is no longer discarded carelessly.
Cardboard and newspapers can be flattened, tied, and collected on designated days. Scrap metal and old appliances can be scheduled for organised removal.
We must also examine our consumption habits. Every loaf of bread and nearly every pastry is wrapped in plastic. Fruits and vegetables can be weighed without unnecessary plastic packaging, and customers can be encouraged to bring reusable bags. Small policy adjustments can significantly reduce waste at the source.
Having lived for decades in Switzerland, I observed children helping their parents separate waste and accompany them to recycling centres. In Italy, I saw schoolchildren participate in organised beach clean-ups during holidays to protect marine life. These practices are not about superiority. They are about education, structure, and civic culture.
Guyana can design its own model suited to our reality. We do not need to reinvent systems that already work elsewhere. Strategic technical partnerships with countries experienced in modern waste governance could accelerate practical solutions.
Turning a deaf ear to unmanaged waste will not make it disappear. It will grow into long-term environmental and financial burdens. Cleaning polluted coastlines, repairing blocked drainage systems, and restoring degraded areas is far more expensive than prevention.
Moreover, national cleanliness is economic policy. As Guyana expands tourism and increases global visibility, our environment becomes part of our international identity. Visitors who encounter orderly communities leave with admiration. Those who encounter neglect leave with doubt.
Policy focused on environmental standards strengthens civic pride. It reinforces that we are building not only wealth, but a nation worthy of respect.
I do not compare Guyana to diminish it. I compare because I know we are capable.
Let us ensure that our natural magnificence is matched by national discipline.
Let us move from Garden City to Garden Country.
The time to act is now — not out of fear, but out of pride.