TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS Lessons Learned from Land-fill Site in Georgetown Guyana LEADERS COURSE 2003 St. Ann – Jamaica Dr. Bizuayehu Jeffrey Mayor and City Council Georgetown Guyana

TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS

Lessons Learned from Land-fill Site in Georgetown Guyana

INTRODUCTION

• Guyana is the only English speaking country situated on the Northeast coast of the continent of South America. It is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Suriname, on the west by Venezuela and southwest by Brazil.

Guyana

• Guyana has seven ethnic groups:  Amerindians  East Indians  Portuguese  Europeans  Africans  Chinese  Mixed Race

The land fill site

• Located on the north-east and south of the site is two highly populated area approximately 30,000 people.

• The city of Georgetown total population 240,000

• A daily disposal of solid waste is 300 tons per day.

• Because of methane gas (during the anaerobic stage) fire occurs once or twice a year.

Consequences of the Landfill:

• during the anaerobic stage formation of methane gas • building up of the gas causes fire to occur once or twice a year.

Consequences of the fire

• Smoke billows and thick cloud rise to a height of 50 feet or more.

• There are direct risks to fire fighters • The smoke causes discoloration of the building

 Adults and children develop medical conditions  respiratory infection  skin infection  and asthma.

• Destruction to the environment – air pollution, –contamination of water, – forest fires

LESSONS LEARNED

Mayor and City Council (Public Health Department) • There is need for collaboration • Civil Defense Commission • • City Engineer Fire Service

LESSONS LEARNED

• To keep abreast of modern technology • Training must be a compulsory part of introduction

CONCLUSION

• Acquire knowledge to improve Emergency Management - that includes institutional strengthening human resources development, etc.

• How to be prepared for complex disaster, biological and technological

CONCLUSION

• Relocation of the land fill site – The Mayor City Council, The Government and the IDB

Thank you