Major cleanup in Montego Bay amid illegal dumping and rat infestation

 

A major cleanup operation is underway in a section of Montego Bay following widespread improper garbage disposal and a growing rat infestation. 

 

The cleanup and dump site eradication is taking place along North Street where several homes and businesses are located. 

 

A skip was placed for waste disposal, however, Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Richard Vernon, says garbage is being dumped outside of the large bin provided. 

 

Mayor Vernon says even as the dump site was formalised in 2020 to accommodate normal waste, the contents including bulky waste have become a nuisance.

 

"The steps that we'll be taking is one, eradicate this dump site; two, conduct the extension of the sensitisation exercise that we have been doing right across the city of Montego Bay; three, check with all the business operators within the space to ensure that they have a contract with a private company or with WPM pertaining to the carting away of their waste; and four, we will be installing surveillance cameras within the space so that persons [won't] try to breach the stipulations that we are now putting in place."

 

The mayor said drums will also be distributed in communities closest to the area as an alternative means of disposing of waste. In addition, the communities will get updated schedules for the arrival of garbage trucks.

 

Mayor Vernon said the move is necessary to make the area compliant with public health protocols. He complained that the site has become a breeding ground for rodents and this has negative implications for the Montego Bay business district.

 

"We have a public-private partnership with a pest control company and we will be focusing on rodent eradication within the Charles Gordon Market and the market district. We intend to bring the programme into the extended business district of Montego Bay. But for it to work properly we have to eradicate some obvious sites," he acknowledged.