New Mayor Declares War on Rodents

Newly installed Mayor of Kingston, Senator Angella Brown Burke, has indicated that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) will be moving to develop a plan of action to address the reported rodent infestation affecting sections of the Corporate Area.

Delivering her inaugural address at the installation ceremony at the KSAC, Church Street, downtown Kingston, on April 2, Senator Brown Burke said Town Clerk, Errol Greene, will be asked to “pull all stakeholders together,” so that the plan of action can be developed. This is to enable all interests to “pool our respective resources…in order to tackle the problem and deal with it in a holistic manner,” she explained.

Noting the “frightening tales of rat infestation” which have been resonating “over the past few weeks,” the Mayor contended that this issue “cannot be solved by just a couple of baits." Rather, that it will require “true leadership” from the Council, “working in partnership with other stakeholders,” she said.

“While we recognise that this is a public health matter, and the solution will require the support of a number of stakeholders, we (at the Council) will not sit idly by and allow the health and well-being of our residents to be compromised. I believe that the KSAC should take the lead role in ensuring that Kingston and St. Andrew, as a parish, is rid of this menace,” she asserted.

Senator Brown Burke said her concerns have been conveyed to Mr. Greene, who has advised that there has been dialogue with the Chief Health Inspector, and Medical Officer of Health, on the matter.

Stressing  that development of the plan is an “urgent matter,” which the Council will be prioritising, Senator Brown Burke said the Council will be pursuing discussions with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), with a view to collaborating on how best “we can partner to make this a clean city (and the entire parish), and to keep it so."

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter