A detailed plan for improving the sanitary conditions in and around the Bourda market has been unveiled.

City councillors are now considering the plan which was circulated at last Monday's statutory meeting. According to the document the council had asked Cevon's Waste Management INC to submit proposals to ensure the success of the exercise.

The company submitted two options with costing, and from their comments the clerk of markets and his senior staff are in favour of plan B which will cost a little more than $20M per year.

The current cost for the sanitization of Bourda market is more than $19.5M per year and this is being done on a 10-hour basis, while plan B is to be a 24-hour service.

Plan "B"

It is being proposed that the market be swept daily, using mechanical sweepers along with manual labour including litter pick-up on a 24-hour basis.

The market is to be washed monthly where high pressure pumps with an attachment to spray detergents will be used. Cobwebbing will be done on a quarterly basis. Cevons, which is already contracted to the council for clearing garbage along with another garbage disposal company, has been doing work along Orange Walk on the eastern side of Bourda market with some success.

The contractor will be responsible for supplying tools and bins while the maintenance of all bins will be the responsibility of Cevons.

It is envisaged that there will be an increase in business opportunities for market vendors since more shoppers would go to the market.

Calabash Gift Shoppe

Councillors last Monday rejected an application from the managing director of Calabash Gift Shoppe Elizabeth Deane-Hughes seeking permission to utilize the council's parapet on both sides, between Manget Place and Cross Street to showcase a centre of art and culture for Cricket World Cup.

Following a site visit by a group of councillors it was noted in a report that other businesses within the same area make use of the road to gain access to their businesses and also for parking.

It was recalled that some years ago the council had identified that specific portion of land for the parking of mini buses and an injunction was obtained against the municipality by the law firm of Hughes, Fields and Stoby restraining the council from using the portion of land for mini bus parking.

This matter is still pending in court.

The end of the search

After a frantic search for someone to act for Dr B Jeffrey who was appointed several months ago to act as Medical Officer of Health (MOH) replacing the retired Dr Vibert Shury, someone has been recruited.

He is Dr Dennison Davis who is qualified in Public Health. He was welcomed to the senior staff of the council at the last statutory meeting. Dr Jeffrey is in Cuba completing studies in Public Health at the expense of the council.

It's not been disclosed what arrangements have been put in place to acquire the services of Dr Davis who is employed by the Government of Guyana.

The government had granted a request from the council for the secondment of Dr Shury from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation because of a shortage of doctors qualified in Public Health.

This column welcomes Dr Davis who has undertaken a difficult task especially at this time when attention is being paid to the sanitary conditions of the city.