It is good news to hear that the Government has finally taken steps to clean up its reserves of all encumbrances. I have been advocating for this forever.

Georgetown and other places across the country rundown as they are need to be rid of the ugly eyesores which not only encumber but affect our drainage and maintenance programmes.

Let’s hope this will not be a one-off event like the recent City clean-up which is back to business as usual.

While I am fully against these works being carried out by the Ministry of Works instead of City Hall who should have been enabled with the appropriate funding to do their job, (that’s another story) I am nonetheless happy that measures are now being taken to clean up the mess.

City Wardens should afterwards be authorized to give notice and report any new offenders by taking pictures and giving out warnings. Citizens should get behind this move 100%.

A furore with a political bias is to be expected but no one can argue that our pride as a nation is foremost and if we expect to get quality ratings then we must behave in a like manner.

Our mentality must reflect who we are and what we stand for. Often, we go abroad even within our CARICOM region and remark over their higher standards so what’s wrong with us not setting good examples too.

The city along with the Ministry of Works should require permits to dump sand and stone and earth on their reserves and a compliance standard set before doing so. Offenders should have their work halted until they comply. One such requirement is that things are in place to ensure debris does not reach the drainage and should not block roadways. Also, when the work is done the applicant must clear all the leftover stuff and leave the parapet in good state.

I say, start your campaign on that busy road between Duncan and David streets known as Middleton St. on this stretch there are even old trucks badly parked and one is used as a dumpster. Vendors also hug the edge of the road as they sell to uncaring traffic which stop to make purchases. Then there are the bridges across Merriman Mall especially at the East St. junction where it is common practice to park on both sides.

I can go on and I am not even the Mayor, Let’s see where all this goes.

Sincerely, Bernard Ramsay