Consumers Concerns
The registration period for all existing activities that discharge effluents or contaminants in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana ends on July 31. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling on all existing activities that discharge effluents or contaminants to complete and return a registration form to them before or on that date. The Guyana Consumers' Association has some forms available and, of course, forms can be had from the EPA itself.
By Eileen Cox
Stabroek News
July 29, 2001
Failure to register may result in a person being liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $30,000 and not more than $80,000.
When registration forms are submitted, the EPA will conduct a verification process to ensure that the information provided is accurate.
Registration does not apply to households that do not contain industrial or commercial facilities, construction of housing schemes, temporary building machinery and the operation of transportation vessels.
A registration fee of $4,000 will be charged for processing and updating the register.
What does all of this mean for the ordinary consumer?
We sincerely hope that it means monitoring all those nuisances that are making life so difficult for many consumers.
The noise nuisance comes to mind immediately. Noise is prevalent in all parts of Guyana. Persons operate discos or play their radios at extremely high volumes with no regard at all for their neighbours, for the children who cannot study at night, for the sick and for persons living under stressful conditions. There are the generators placed close to neighbouring residences and, in this period of daily outages, try disturbing the peace of mind of neighbours. In some cases, persons whose livelihood depends on peace and quiet in their homes can no longer carry on with their normal activities.
There are the air effluents. A consumer who has had peaceful occupation of his home for decades may wake up one morning to find a restaurant opening next door to him: The effluents from the kitchen soon become intolerable, especially if any member of the family suffers from asthma or other illness. At the present time, only a court order will remove the nuisance. Consumers would hope that with the EPA'S intervention such a nuisance will no longer occur.
Is the water we drink safe? If you leave a bucket of tap water overnight, you will often see the rust that settles overnight. Will EPA ensure that people all over Guyana receive safe drinking water and water that is safe for bathing?
The EPA will also oversee the operation and expansion of airports. When it is making an assessment of the environmental impact of the expansion of the Ogle Airport all consumers who understand the environmental impact of an expanded airport will have to voice their concerns loudly and effectively.
Will voicing concerns really help? When the median was being constructed in the Rupert Craig Highway, many voices were raised in protest. The Guyana Consumers' Association, the Road Safety Association, the management Of the Ocean View International Hotel, residents at Plaisance and in villages affected by the
high median, raised their concerns. Even the police department had concerns, but to no effect. A suggestion was made that fly-overs would be built. At what cost? Who would use them?
The median was intended to reduce the number of serious accidents in this area but serious accidents continue and will be increased as drivers ignore the traffic speed with impunity.
It is learnt that before the median was built, there should have been an environmental impact assessment. Was this undertaken and, if so, can the Guyana Consumers' Association have access to the report?
Much needs to be done to restore peace and tranquillity in this country that is so dear to many of us. Development has taken place apace without due care for the rights of all consumers. We now need to pledge support to the environmental agency. The right that consumers have to be consulted and the right to take part in decision making are not to be ignored.