Cleanup begins in Gregory Park community following arson attack

 

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) on Thursday brought in heavy duty equipment to help residents clear debris from last Saturday's terror and arson attack along Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park, St. Catherine.

 

Executive Director of the NSWMA Audley Gordon said the agency views the assistance as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. 

 

"That's why we are here to help the residents to get back on their feet by doing a big clean up operation. We are brought in trucks and heavy duty equipment, and personnel, and just trying to ensure that we clean the space up so that they can get their lives back together. All of us feel the pain when things like this happen. We are part of a family, the Jamaican family," he said.

 

Twelve truckloads of rubble were removed from the site Thursday and the NSWMA said it expects to remove another eight truckloads.

 

More than 40 residents of Walkers Avenue were left homeless after gunmen torched several homes early Saturday morning. A taxi driver was killed in the attack.

 

Member of Parliament for East Central St. Catherine, Alando Terrelonge, has pledged that assistance will be provided to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged by fire in the Walkers Avenue arson attack.

 

Mr. Terrelonge, who spoke with Radio Jamaica News while in the community Thursday, said representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister's HOPE programme will spearhead the construction. 

 

"The quantity surveyor was on spot as well as the architects, as well as the engineers from the HOPE programme... because it is not business as usual and we are not going to allow any Jamaicans to be trapped in that kind of trauma or fear. We are going to help them rebuild," he promised. 

 

Mr. Terrelonge also responded to residents of another section of Gregory Park, known as Mexico, who questioned whether they, too, would be provided with assistance to rebuild after gunmen torched houses in the area on July 30.

 

Fifteen people, including 10 children, were left homeless. 

 

"We'll provide them with assistance in terms of clothes, monetary aid, food items as well," he said, adding that their councillor has been assisting in terms of providing work and getting material for rebuilding. 

 

He said those residents will receive further assistance from the Constituency Development Fund and there will also be a clean up exercise in that area on Friday.