TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERSTECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS

Lessons Learned from Land-fill Lessons Learned from Land-fill Site in Georgetown GuyanaSite in Georgetown Guyana

LEADERS COURSE 2003 LEADERS COURSE 2003 St. Ann – JamaicaSt. Ann – Jamaica

Dr. Bizuayehu JeffreyDr. Bizuayehu JeffreyMayor and City Council Mayor and City Council

GeorgetownGeorgetownGuyanaGuyana

TECHNOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERSDISASTERS

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned from Land-fill Site in from Land-fill Site in Georgetown GuyanaGeorgetown Guyana

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

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

GuyanaGuyana

•Guyana has seven ethnic Guyana has seven ethnic groups:groups:

AmerindiansAmerindians

East IndiansEast Indians

PortuguesePortuguese

EuropeansEuropeans

AfricansAfricans

ChineseChinese

Mixed RaceMixed Race

The land fill siteThe land fill site

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

•The city of Georgetown - The city of Georgetown - total population 240,000total population 240,000

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

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

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

•There are direct risks to fire-fighters There are direct risks to fire-fighters

•The smoke causes discoloration of The smoke causes discoloration of the buildingthe building

Adults and children Adults and children develop medical conditionsdevelop medical conditions

respiratory infection respiratory infection skin infectionskin infectionand asthma.and asthma.

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

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

Mayor and City Council - Mayor and City Council - (Public Health Department)(Public Health Department)

• There is need for There is need for collaborationcollaboration

• Civil Defense Commission Civil Defense Commission • City EngineerCity Engineer• Fire ServiceFire Service

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

•To keep abreast of modern To keep abreast of modern technologytechnology

•Training must be a Training must be a compulsory part of compulsory part of introduction introduction

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

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

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

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

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

Thank youThank you