The Ministry of Public Works is preparing to take stronger action against the unauthorised erection of billboards, banners and posters along Guyana’s main roads and highways, as it raises concerns about their growing impact on the country’s landscape.
Speaking on Wednesday, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill reminded the public that the Ministry is the sole authority responsible for granting permission for the erection of billboards along the nation’s main access roads and highways.
He said it has become common for persons promoting events to place advertisements on lamp posts, road shoulders and other public spaces without authorisation.
“It can’t be everybody who have a dance, a BBQ, a lime, can just come and stick up on a lamp post or put up a billboard or put a banner across or stick something on the shoulders of the road,” the Minister said.
Edghill acknowledged that organisers want to promote their activities, but noted that many of the advertisements remain in place long after the events have ended.
“The activities are gone. Completed. The billboards remain there. The place looks awful. The aesthetics of the city is being compromised,” he said.
He explained that the Ministry is now being forced to spend money to hire small contractors to remove abandoned billboards and other advertising materials left along roadways.
According to the Minister, the Ministry will be taking “very strong action” to prevent the practice, while encouraging the use of more appropriate methods of advertising.
He also urged members of the public to report illegal or abandoned billboards, posters nailed to utility poles, signs placed on earthen shoulders, or torn banners and other cloth materials.
Residents can report such issues by contacting the Ministry’s task force on 624-2964
