NSWMA losing drivers to Cayman and Canada

 

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, says the agency has lost several of its drivers over the last two years to the Cayman Islands and Canada which are paying better salaries.

 

He says while the NSWMA has been on an aggressive drive to replace the drivers, it is facing a difficulty because most of the job seekers have failed the driving test. 

 

"The test is rigorous. Maybe if I had gone for that test now, I would probably fail too. That's just a fact of life. Some of us driving for a number of years and if we were to go back to the depot and do the test, we would have challenges," he admitted. 

 

"You do have times when people will go for the driving test, and for one reason or the other, they didn't make it on the first round. And we have seen in recent times we would have had people coming back disappointed, we encourage them, and on the second go, they all get through. So it's a process and it's good to see that the system is working. If everybody went and got through, then there'd be a problem," said the NSWMA executive director.

 

He said two additional drivers will be deployed to Western Parks and Markets Waste Management Limited, which covers Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover.

 

At the last meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Cleansing Manager for Western Parks and Market, Patrick Gilchrist, disclosed that trucks are sitting idle because there are not enough qualified drivers to operate them. 

 

In the meantime, the National Solid Waste Management Authority will be using its SWEEP initiative to clear the backlog of garbage in the western region.

 

This is in response to frustration expressed by councillors at the St. James Municipal Corporation about delayed garbage collection in their divisions.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News on Thursday, the NSWMA boss said the immediate step is to clear the backlog of garbage. 

 

"We are seeing about 40-odd loads of backlog in the western region - that's Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny. And we have just taken a decision...in the regional management meeting to have the SWEEP unit come in and help to bring those numbers down,"Mr. Gordon advised.    

 

Operation SWEEP, which is outfitted with 10 motorcycles and eight new garbage trucks, was launched earlier this year to enhance and enforce waste management across the country.