Not Business As Usual at NSWMA – Arscott

Jamaicans can expect improvement in service delivery from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), as the agency puts strategies in place over the next year, to enhance efficiencies.

This is the assurance from Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, who said “it is not business as usual” at the agency.

“I assure Jamaica that hard work is taking place to change things at the NSWMA,” he asserted, while addressing a press conference today (June 16), at Jamaica House, to provide an update on the agency’s plans.

He lamented that while the image of the NSWMA has been damaged over the past few years, he is positive that it will be repaired as the agency improves its services and wins the support of the public.

The agency’s management team, along with the newly appointed board, will be working to implement changes to ensure that going forward, the operations of the entity are as transparent and accountable as possible.

Minister Arscott said he is confident that the highly skilled board members “will do everything they can to ensure the agency is efficiently and effectively managed.”

“The composition of this new board was deliberate. It is a good mix with a wide range of skills. The skills include corporate governance, legal, accounting, business operations, and environmental,” he informed.

He noted that a key mandate of the board is to address the challenges of managing the Riverton City Disposal Site.

Chairman of the Board, Chartered Accountant Dennis Chung, said the board is working to improve the governance structure of the agency.

“Our main focus right now, as a board, is on looking forward and what needs to be done to bring about proper governance for the benefit of the public, because at the end of the day, we must remember that what we are doing is trying to ensure a good service of garbage collection, and ensuring that the country remains clean,” he said.

The Chairman informed that subcommittees have also been established to put the proper governance structure in place. The areas to be dealt with are corporate governance, audit, finance and procurement, technical and operations, and human resources.

Mr. Chung noted that the board has identified seven priority areas to be addressed within six months and seven to be addressed within 12 months.

These priority areas entail improving financial management and corporate governance, debt reduction, improved service delivery, staff engagement and accountability, and ensuring that disposal sites are properly managed.

“We are aware of the commitment we have to the public and will be taking steps to improve garbage collection, enforcement, and cleanliness, within the constraints of the resources,” Mr. Chung assured.