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Measures Coming to Promote Proper Disposal of Garbage

By: , November 1, 2016

The Key Point:

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be undertaking a number of initiatives to promote the proper disposal of waste by Jamaicans.
Measures Coming to Promote Proper Disposal of Garbage
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, speaks at a press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, October 31. At right is Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

The Facts

  • Included will be a comprehensive public-education campaign, to involve the hosting of town hall meetings right across the country.
  • A submission is to be made to Cabinet for an increase in fines for the improper disposal of garbage in public places.

The Full Story

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be undertaking a number of initiatives to promote the proper disposal of waste by Jamaicans.

Included will be a comprehensive public-education campaign, to involve the hosting of town hall meetings right across the country.

“This is to sensitise the people about the importance of the (proper) disposal of garbage,” Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said at a press conference to announce the appointment of an Enterprise Team to identify a preferred waste-management provider for the divestment of the Riverton Landfill.

The press conference was held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, October 31.

Mr. McKenzie informed that a submission is to be made to Cabinet for an increase in fines for the improper disposal of garbage in public places.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the Government, in the last financial year, provided some $250 million towards the purchase of garbage trucks.

“These trucks will be coming into the island by the end of February next year and will go directly into the system. We are (also) presently engaged in discussions on getting some 41 private trucks in the system,” the Minister said.

“We are hoping that with those 41 trucks and the 17 trucks that are coming into the system, we will be able to create significant improvements in the garbage collection right across the country,” he added.

Mr. McKenzie said the recent flooding in the Corporate Area and in sections of Portland and St. Mary is as a result of improper garbage disposal.

“We will try our best to respond in a very positive way and in a meaningful way to the various concerns, but we need the buy-in of the country as we try to deal with this problem,” he said.

The nine-member Enterprise Team is chaired by Mr. Lyttleton Shirley, and is charged with managing the process of establishing a waste-to-energy system in Jamaica and contracting out the solid-waste collection and solid-waste management of the country.

Other team members include Deputy Chairman, Dr. Milton Clarke (Jamaica Social Investment Fund); Milverton Reynolds (Development Bank of Jamaica); Rochelle Dacres (Ministry of Finance and the Public Service); Fitzroy Vidal (Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology); Dr. Kerrine Senior (National Environment and Planning Agency); Audley Gordon (National Solid Waste

Management Authority); Patrick Gordon (Mechanical Engineer); and Paul Tai (Attorney-at-Law).

Last Updated: November 1, 2016

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