epa

On April 22 Guyana and the rest of the world observed Earth Day. This annual event raises awareness of the pertinent issues affecting the Earth and to take action. Since its establishment in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG has added some 75,000 partners in over 190 plus countries which resulted in an overwhelming drive to take positive actions for our planet. These actions range from combating poor air quality caused by manufacturing industries to land and water pollution spurred on by population increase and agricultural operations. The theme “Restore Our Earth” for Earth Day 2021 is so relevant because of the impact of last years’ more than ninety-nine (99) wild fires killing over three (3) billion animals in Australia alone, and the Amazon wildfire in our neighboring country of Brazil where thousands of animals were killed, including the endangered jaguar and their habitat destroyed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with the Guyana Police Force, to train forty –four (44) Police Officers in noise management. Given the COVID-19 health restrictions, the training was conducted in two (2) batches on March 23 and 24, 2021, respectively. Officers were drawn from along the Pomeroon-Supenaam area including Suddie, Anna Region, Charity, Leguan, and Aurora police stations. This training brings the total number of Police Officers trained to date to two hundred four (204).  

 This first phase of the training aimed to build the capacity of Police Officers to better understand and manage noise emissions in the region. Officers were exposed to topics such as EPA’s role in noise management, understanding noise and its impacts, regulatory responsibility of the EPA and the Guyana Police Force in noise management, and evidence-based enforcement of the Noise Regulations. The second phase of the training,  featured the practical application of the training which included the use of the noise meter to collect evidence.

Based on the recommendations of the participants, it is imperative that a strategy be outlined and agreed between the relevant parties so that this joint initiative can be materialised and be sustained. As such, the legal representatives from both organisations are working towards developing a mechanism for this collaboration.

 In the face of COVID-19, the Agency's Administrative Division continues to value each employee as an irreplaceable human capital. In doing so, the Agency views the Administrative Division and the work of each staff as paramount to its day-to-day operation. Building resilient staff allows for the mandate of the EPA to be executed, even as the country faces these unprecedented times.

The drivers, cleaners, handyman, and office assistants all contribute to ensuring that the workspace is cleaned and maintained regularly, adequate transportation is made readily available and payments and mails are delivered in a timely manner. Aside from the axillary staff, the Human Resources, Procurement, Finance, GIS/IT Technology, and Administrative Support Units form the dynamic synergy that keeps the Agency going.

The work of the Agency is considered an essential service, and the Administrative Division supports each programme area to ensure that all the necessary resources, tools, and services are made available in a manner consistent with efficiency and effective management.

Pictured above: Staff of the Administrative Unit (Human Resources, Procurement, Finance, GIS/IT Technology/, and Administrative Support Units)

World Water Day is observed on 22 March every year since 1993, focusing on the importance of freshwater. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living around the world without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.