Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Public Works, Walter Willis, told reporters today the Mandela dumpsite was deliberately set on fire, causing enormous trouble for residents in the vicinity and traffic along Mandela Avenue. The city council, the Fire Service and the Ministry are working to contain the heavy smoke that has engulfed the entire area. Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Greene said on Tuesday that  it is unfortunate that the problem often occurs and that it is hard to keep watch on all the persons moving in and around the Mandela dump site.

The Head of State, the Road Safety Council and the Guyana Police Force today unanimously came up with a number of proposals to make the country’s road safer. The proposals include road education awareness, seminars for all operators, and the role of the traffic police and their interaction with the commuting public. The meeting was held as part of road safety week and include a number of serious concerns raised by the President which are to be addressed soon with immediate measures to prevent carnage and make the roadways safer.

At about 12:30 pm today, ranks of a mobile police patrol at No.55 village,Corentyne, Berbice stopped and search a motor cyclist and found an un lincensed 12 guage shotgun with five cartridges in a bag. He was arrested and will be charged shortly.

As sugar workers continue to strike for better wages and salaries, the Guyana Sugar Corporation today  proposed that if this year’s production is 270,000 tonnes sugar or more, an across-the-board increase of 5%, effective from 1st January 2010, will be awarded.The Corporation at the last three meetings on October 12th, 15th and November 3rd 2010 with GAWU reaffirmed its state of indebtedness, caused by low sugar production experienced in the past 5 years.

 The Ministry of Agriculture has moved to clear canals and trenches in sections of the capital city and along the East Coast of Demerara. The move came as a result of the recent changes of weather patterns over the past two years where there is heavy rain  in December and January.

Usually clearing of canals and trenches falls under the responsibility of the Mayor and City Council and the National Democratic Councils.
The workers said they were privately contracted by the Agriculture Ministry and were not full-time staff.