NSWMA Begins Clearing Debris from Independence Park in Black River

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) began clearing debris from Independence Park in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Monday (January 12).

This was noted by Executive Director at the NSWMA, Audley Gordon, at a press briefing held at the agency’s Half-Way Tree Road headquarters in Kingston, on January 12.

Mr. Gordon explained that the park was used as a temporary storage area for debris that was cleaned from the town centre that was thrashed by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

“That was a strategic move to kind of temporarily store the garbage at a place… so that we could have a better turnaround time as we move the garbage out of the town centre,” Mr. Gordon continued.

He noted that given the size of the clean-up activities, temporary holding sites are necessary for efficiency when clearing debris from heavily used town areas.

Mr. Gordon said that areas in St. James and Westmoreland were also utilised, highlighting that the Catherine Hall location (in St. James) has been nearly cleared of all stored debris.

He shared that with most of the clean-up completed in the town centres of parishes that were significantly devastated by Hurricane Melissa, the NSWMA plans to move further into communities and rural areas to advance debris removal.

“Now we are to move in a more fulsome and more decisive way into the rural areas of St. James, Trelawny, Hanover, and the outskirts of White House, outskirts of Savanna-la-Mar, all the major town centres. We are pretty satisfied with what we have done in the major town centres,” Mr. Gordon said.

He pointed out that this next phase will require “an aggressive move” over the next three months where he expects approximately 20,000 truckloads of debris from those areas.

The Executive Director identified Whitehouse in Westmoreland as an area of concern; however, clean-up efforts are under way, with plans to boost capacity by adding 15 local trucks this week.

This, Mr. Gordon said, has the added benefit of providing work for residents living in the communities in White House.

“Each truck would have at least three labourers. So, some people will be getting work… . But it’s good work, and it’s important work as we tackle this debris management exercise,” he continued.