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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 19:07:04
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I agree that Cleaning services should keep the public streets clean, that is their job. But people should keep their own backyards clean. Simple as that. I was shocked when I saw in Senegal that people threw their garbage out the window. There it was lying rottening in the sun, covered with flies just outside the window. I stayed in this area near the airport, Dakar and the next morning when I "woke up" (couldnīt sleep cause of all the flies and mosquitoes in the room) my whole body was full of mosqitoebites! After that we went to kaolak and we couldnīt open the car windows, cause we would have choked of flies. I never experienced this in Gambia though.
But people definitely have a own responsability to clean up their own dirt.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 19:12:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Babylon
I agree that Cleaning services should keep the public streets clean, that is their job. But people should keep their own backyards clean. Simple as that. I was shocked when I saw in Senegal that people threw their garbage out the window. There it was lying rottening in the sun, covered with flies just outside the window. I stayed in this area near the airport, Dakar and the next morning when I "woke up" (couldnīt sleep cause of all the flies and mosquitoes in the room) my whole body was full of mosqitoebites! After that we went to kaolak and we couldnīt open the car windows, cause we would have choked of flies. I never experienced this in Gambia though.
But people definitely have a own responsability to clean up their own dirt.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT CLEANING OUR BACK YARDS WHICH WE ALL DO. WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE FORCED TO CLEAN PUBLIC THOROUGH FARES. THAT IS A MATTER FOR THE STATE. |
Edited by - kondorong on 19 Jul 2006 19:12:56 |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 19:18:13
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| Of course you should not have to be forced to clean up the streets. But also, many people obviously (from my experience, that I saw with my own two eyes) do not keep their own backyards clean either. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 19:23:30
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| THE PROBLEM IS EVEN IF YOU CLEAN YOU BACK YARD THERE ARE NO GARBAGE TRUCKS COMING ANY MORE. SOME ARE FORCED TO DIG BIG HOLES IN THEIR YARDS AND BURN THEM. I HAVE ONE IN MY YARD. WE NEED TO HAVE THE TRUCKS COMING TO COLLECT THE GARBAGE. IT IS THE STATES FAULT |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 19:35:26
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| It is the states fault if there iare no garbage trucks. That can only end in one way; disaster. Like in Kaolack... No disrespect to Senegal, but that flie/mosquitoe experience was worse than any horror movie. A dirty environment brings flies and diseases. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2006 : 20:34:19
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| Mosquitoes were seasonal in the Gambia. Now, malaria is all year round. Cleansing service was very helpful. Now that they are reduced to bare bones, malaria has become a national issue more than ever before. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 02:06:40
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kondorong to be fair the pencils were D70.
but on a seperate note today i heard an interesting radio program on the fight against corruption. right now in Senegal there is a major corruption scandal invovling magistrates. so a Senegalese radio based in the US, Radio TamTam called the court house in Dakar asking for some documents.
a senior official answered and the DJ from the radio station said he wanted some documents and was willing to pay CFA 100,000 for it. they kept talking and making the neccesary arrangements whilst the whole conversion was on air!
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 09:04:32
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Hello friends,
Well this is far of topic but I want to add my contribution.
As environmental officer am I involved in these matters, especially with the BCC as my home town has a city link with Banjul. Therefor I do have some experience in waste control management.
First of all you are right that it is one of the core businesses of local governments to take care of a healthy environment. Waste control, stormdrains and sewers are basics for a healthy and clean environment.
However. A local government can't do it alone. If there is no attitude to pay attention or to contribute in a clean environment its for the local government impossible to realise those goals.
As a consequence there has to be done a lot of work on 2 fields.
1. The local government has to organise a regular waste collecting system. They have to buy or rent the logistic material such as compactors or waste collecting vehicles; they have to organise a dumping site; they need enough staff to do the jobs.
2. Sensitation of the population is necessary as well.
My experience and knowledge is that local governments have financial problems is buying the necessary equipment. The tax incomes aren't that high as most of the tax-systems benefit the national government.
Attitude is a big problem. But this is not typical african. Even in Western Europe maintaining that attitude is a problem. Therefor we installed an 'environmental police' to control the behaviour of people and to give penalties (up to 250 euro if someone is caught for dumping his waste illegaly!!)if necessary.
Actions as clean the nation are in my view part of the sensitation of the people and therefor usefull. But of coarse you don't have to do that in the Gambian way . You don't have to paralyse a whole country during several hours for a cleansing action.
My home city will support the BCC to realise both goals. I hope we will see some improvement in the next months/years
Inshallah
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 09:39:14
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[quote]Originally posted by LEMON TIME
IT does not matter if am in Sweden,South Africa or The Gambia,No Goverment should force anyone to work by FORCE UNLESS you want to.I was in sweden in 1994 and their streets were spotless indeed,did the local people clean the streets themselves and still pay their taxes,i relly dont think so DR alhassan
[/quo
Lemon Time,
You seem to have a big problem. Please I am not a Dr. so do not lebel me as one. For your information, all people in Sweden take care of the enviroment in one way or the other. You should have questioned your friends. Even dog owners are supplied with plastic bags to pick up their dogs wastemater. You should be ashamed to be told to clean your enviroment. Even tax payers have an obligation to the enviroment. Paying taxes does not mean that you should go arround throwing all wastmater. There is even a fine imposed in Sweden if one is found throwing things in wrong place. You should go back to school and repeat your hygine lessons.
Yes we do clean our enviroment even thou we pay taxes. Even the OGIS(Gambian organisation in Sweden) have been involved in cleaning the streets of Stockholm. Most municipals in Stockholm infact call on their people as school classes and ideal organisations to help clean the streets twice a year. This happens in May and September. You can ask your friends here if you wish.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 10:10:02
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KEEP GAMBIA TIDY!!! WHAT WRONG WITH THAT! If it can rid Gambia of Choleria, Malaria and Banjul Belly . Let's get really each individual must share responsible for picking up after themselves, Local government is responsible for disposing of the rubbish. Central government can decentralise the process by allowing garbage collection to be both a public and private. The finite details can be decided by them. Cleaniness is next to Godliness, a cleaner Environment is better for health.
Cleaning up can also be done by prisoners why should they just languish in jail without nothing to do? It can also be done by the unemployed it doesn't have to be left to women alone to do it. After all plenty of exercise is good for health and good health improves your wealth. So stop complaining about cleaning up Gambia. It's only lazy people who shout loudiest when work has to be done!
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 20 Jul 2006 10:11:25 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 10:33:01
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Sister Omega i think prisoners still have rights and not every one is sentenced to hard labours. Jede is partly right in that attitudes play a big part. people drink from plastic water sachets and simple throw it anywhere. things like that, but then again you ask if they would if rubbish bins are also accessible? people drive and just throw things out of their windows.
but the area councils have money, thats a FACT. they're just stupid and wasteful not even trying to be innovative. you also have to sensitise the people or educate them about waste management. for example 50% of most of the household wastes is just SAND from daily sweeping!
if people are educated to throw less waste there will be less to collect. high income areas should be charged more to subsidise for others.
MRC is a good example of a closed environment with trucks coming to collect rubbish and it doesnt cost them much?
KMC is the worst. in Banjul is even slightly understandable because the population/business goes up and down daily and most people who throw rubbish dont live there. |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 10:34:13
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http://www.statehouse.gm/archives.html
speech in part from above:
Fellow Gambians
The Department of State for Health and Social Welfare together with the Department of State for Fisheries, Natural Resources and the Environment are accordingly tasked with the responsibility to spearhead this major operation through advocacy and constructive engagement and partnership with all actors ( government, local authorities, civil society, the private sector and citizens in general) in this national endeavour.
In order to redress the imbalance between curative and preventive modes of health care, my Government hereby challenges and requests the citizenry to embark on the following prevention actions:
1. Environmental Sanitation
Environmental sanitation is a key component in our healthcare service delivery system. The appalling environmental sanitation is the main source of ill health. This fact is clearly indicated in the health statistics derived from our respective health facilities. Morbidity and mortality rates due to malaria, diarrhoea and other environmental related illnesses still remain high and unacceptable.
In this perspective, it is therefore prudent that serious attention is focused by all and sundry on ensuring a clean environment so as to reduce our diseased burden. On this note, I hereby declare "Operation Clean the Nation" launched with immediate effect. This will be a Government - citizen endeavour to ensure a clean environment throughout The Gambia.
The mode of implementation of " Operation Clean the Nation" is to mobilise the Gambian public to embark on nationwide communal cleansing exercise of our neighbourhood and surroundings.
The 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month are hereby set for the operation. I therefore call on all Gambians to join the crusade to clean our nation in order to reduce ill health and to foster economic growth and prosperity.
2. Expired Food Items and Unhygienic Sale and Supply of Food
Fellow Gambians
My Government is deeply concerned with the quality and standard of food we consume which have a direct bearing escalation of certain diseases. Therefore, "Operation Clean the Nation" will reinforce the ban on the sale of expired food items and the operation of food outlets under unhygienic conditions will no longer be acceptable. I therefore task the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare to fully implement the Public Health Act to deal with matters of food hygiene throughout the country. I call on the full support of the Authority, Customs and Exercise Department and the security services.
Fellow Gambians
"Operation Clean the Nation" is a national crusade and is non political as diseases know no political parties. The challenge is now ours and we must stand united to rise up to this challenge.
As "Operation Clean the Nation" is hereby launched I entreat all of you both citizens and non-citizens alike to join the bandwagon of national environmental cleansing. The benefits of preventive care, far outweighs the time and energy spent to clean our surroundings.
Saturday 10th April 2004 will mark the kick-start of "Operation Clean the Nation". During this exercise no traffic except essential services like security forces and medical services would be allowed throughout the country. Community leaders should take the names of people that refuse to participate and forward them to this office. All Members of the National Assembly should be at their respective Constituencies to coordinate this exercise on these stipulated days. Alkalos, Seyfolus, Mayors, Commissioners and National Assembly Members would be held responsible for the cleanliness or otherwise of their areas of control. The cleanest Village, Town, District, Municipality and Division at all times would be handsomely rewarded. The dirtiest would also be severely dealt with. Prizes would be rewarded every three months.
I thank you all for your kind attention
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 10:44:45
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Njucks of cause prisoners have rights how ever not all punishment needs to be custodial some sentences for minor offences can take the form of community service, and that can entail cleaning up the environment.
peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 11:14:48
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Njucks and Jade,
Thanks for the reply. People like Kondorong are the typical opposition that will not agree with any suggestion from the ruling party. Weather good or bad. As I know Gambins, these reactions are not strange. Buying pencils at D70.00 each is acriminal. Why did people not question the persons who buy them. But this is a very old Gambian trick. With their LPOs and so on. An example is if I am a head of a depertment and wants to buy goods for my depertment, I speak to a seller and after I have got a price, I put my own price and bill the Government. Then the seller and I divide the rest of the money over after the actual payment. Such criminal act are still rampant at home.Most of the government's incom generating depertments has these tendencies. I suggest Kondorong to take up these maters and bring them forward. Kondorong are you involved in the politics too?
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 13:57:30
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| DR Alhassan please tell me what i do not already know,living in gambia for long time and Europe for 14years now,i think i know that no one should FORCE anyone to work in the street.Fair to say everyone should clean their own enviroment but not FORCE to clean the streets.If you are well educated how comes dont you konw that it is a CRIME to FORCE anyone to work.GGGRRRRRR. |
There is no god but Allah |
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