NSWMA criticised for poor garbage collection in St. Catherine

 

The National Solid Waste Management Authority was put on the defensive Thursday after it was heavily criticised by councillors at the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation over the poor collection of garbage in the parish.

 

Some councillors at the monthly meeting of the corporation complained about the pile up of garbage in their divisions over several weeks, with one saying it was affecting the Angels Primary School in Spanish Town.

 

Patricia Harris, who represents the Angels Division, said the resultant effects of the garbage pile up at the school had spilled over into the Angels Grove community.

 

"Sometimes four weeks, five weeks, no collection of garbage, and I don't have to tell you what happens because I have videos showing those little small creatures crawling all over the place. There are instances where the classes have to move from that area to another area to avoid the stench. We're talking about children here. And the residents who live near the school, it affects them as well because the stench is unbearable," said Councillor Harris. 

 

The councillors also highlighted unkempt streets and town centres as issues that need urgent attention. 

 

Citing a potential health crisis in St. Catherine, Councillor for the Waterford Division, Fenley Douglas, called for the resignation of Executive Director of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon. 

 

"Just as how we are councillors elected by the people, if we are not performing, the people should vote us out. So managers that are being paid by taxpayers' money need to perform. And if the head of NSWMA is not performing and him cyah D-O, then he must G-O," the councillor demanded. 

 

But Mr. Douglas was accused by minority leader in the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation, Councillor Theresa Turner Flynn, of playing politics and campaigning.

 

"Chairman, if talking about the garbage and the garbage infestation in this parish is campaigning, then I'm going to campaign every day, Chairman, because the people need better," he retorted. 

 

In response to the call for his resignation, NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon has said he will continue his stewardship at the agency.

 

"What I will do is just keep working hard and do the best I can and try to strike up the partnerships as we go along to see how we can clean this place up."

 

Meanwhile, Public Cleansing Manager at MPM Waste Management, Daniel Heaven, while accepting that there are challenges with the timely collection of garbage as well as the sweeping of roads and town centres, said the agency has been working diligently with the resources available.

 

But he told the councillors at the monthly meeting of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation that citizens have to be better managers of their surroundings.

 

"Just last August I was sent to Japan by the Executive Director to learn about sustainable waste management practices on small developing islands. And one of the things that was done in Japan to manage their garbage collection crisis is that there has to be a lot of meetings and communication with residents about the best practices for proper solid waste management. So it's a responsibility for all persons here that we have to go and meet with persons in our constituencies and tell them about proper waste management.... [It's] something that I'm assuming all persons here don't just want to talk about, but we want to actively fix the problem."