We deserve to know how our would-be leaders will deal with environmental and waste management issues before we cast our votes

Dear Editor,

As the nation approaches another general election, one cannot help but notice a glaring omission from the campaign discourse of our political candidates: the persistent issues of rain and rubbish—both in the literal and figurative sense.

 Each year, with the rainy season, we face the same consequences: flooded roads, blocked drains, and disrupted lives. Our cities and villages become temporary swamps, while school children, pensioners, and commuters are left to navigate waterlogged streets. Yet, there seems to be little mention—let alone a concrete plan—from those seeking office on how they intend to address this recurring problem.

 Equally troubling is the ever-present issue of rubbish—mountains of it, clogging waterways, lining parapets, and often left to rot in plain sight. Waste management in Guyana has long needed reform, yet there is a strange silence on this matter from those vying for our votes. Where are the proposals for sustainable waste disposal, community education, or real enforcement of existing bylaws?

 And then, there is the figurative rubbish—the kind that shows up in the form of empty promises, petty political point-scoring, and the recycling of old rhetoric with no substance. We deserve better than sound bites and slogans. We deserve leadership that is willing to roll up its sleeves and confront the country’s issues, both seen and unseen.

It is not enough to talk of oil revenues and infrastructure if the basic day-to-day realities of citizens—clean surroundings, functional drainage, and honest governance—are not addressed. Before we cast our ballots, we deserve to know: how will our would-be leaders deal with the rain and rubbish?

Sincerely,

Keith Bernard