Outside of Lake Independence not many may know the area called Gungulung - but it's been thrust into the national spotlight because its residents have repeatedly gone to the media to complain that garbage is piling up in the area and no one is picking it up.
Today we went out there with Deputy Mayor Philloughby who said it's not City Hall's fault. Monica Bodden has the story:
Deputy Mayor - Phillip Willoughby
"Concerns were prompted via 2 Cents Cam with regard to the concern in this general area known as "Gungulung" but particularly on Emmanuel Street with regards with individuals, maybe business definitely placing their garbage in this general area. I believe it's about 2 blocks where people normally dispose of waste rather than going to the dump site."
"One of the general question was do Belize Waste Control come into this general area to collect residential garbage and I am here to say that residential garbage are collected in this area Tuesdays and Fridays."
George Lamb - Manager Belize Waste Control
"On a weekly we have a small packer truck that move through "Gungulung" area on Tuesday and Friday of each week. The truck is smaller than the regular truck that we regularly use, for reason that the area is not fully develop and to avoid delaying collection the lighter the vehicle, the more effective we are in these newly develop areas."
Belize Waste Control say it is not to blame.
George Lamb - Manager Belize Waste Control
"Obviously somebody is out for mischief if that's their conclusion because we employ a new crew to service the "Gungulung" area and they have been working with us for quite a while. Now the problem that "Gungulung" area is experiencing is a result is insanitary disposal of waste where. The place is being developed without much planning and people decide for economic reason to use the garbage for filling. Now I would discourage that, why, because it encourages the harborage of rodents and other ferments. Also in a longer run when garbage decompose it generates gas such as methane gas which can add or contribute to house burning, bush burning etc. and further to that it can result to human respiratory problems. So I would discourage anybody dumping garbage in an uncontrolled area. There is an assign area for disposal of waste in Belize City and that is the City's dump site."
Willoughby says the problem lies with the businesses - who he says insist on dumping their garbage in the area. Today he told us there are plans that will be put in place to help combat the problem.
Deputy Mayor - Phillip Willoughby
"Commercial businesses are coming dumping garbage in this general area. Be it for just avoiding going to the dump site or people filling lots, we are saying that that behavior is illegal and it's not acceptable. We have several strategies that we will be implementing and some have been role out already, but we won't definitely say what those are - to capture these culprits in the illegal act. Also you will notice that the area doesn't have at this present moment any electricity or street lights and that is the other problem, whilst we can monitor as time permits during the day and late evening, the persons who are irresponsibility disposing their waste here comes in the early mornings or at late nights and the council wouldn't be acting responsible if we have personnel out here giving maybe the situation that we have experience in the general down town area whereby our personnel are simply doing their job to enforce the law and altercations have arisen from that much less to say in a area like this where there is no light and I wouldn't want to speculate what can happen."
And for those living in the area who would like to voice their concerns to the council, the deputy invites you to do just so.
Deputy Mayor - Phillip Willoughby
"For those who have any concerns or complaint they can always contact us down at the Belize City Council to address any further issue or matter that may arise, but I am here to say that Belize Waste Control does traverse this area to collect residential waste and the days are specified. We do have another traversing the area monitoring for the commercial aspects and well as the residential aspect and Belize Waste Control is only a phone call way to say that if they have miss anybody you can get on the phone and call and they respond promptly and effectively and efficiently as they can come back and service the area."
The council plans to conduct patrols in the area to stop illegal garbage disposal…
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