Ongoing Action by KSAMC to Keep Downtown Kingston Clean

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) continues to undertake significant steps to improve the cleanliness and aesthetics, especially in the Parade area of downtown Kingston.

Addressing a press conference at the Corporation’s offices in downtown Kingston on December 5, Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, said the undertaking is in keeping with the KSAMC’s broader Cleaner Kingston Initiative.

He informed that the City Inspector’s Department, in collaboration with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), has been actively conducting a series of cleanup exercises to remove bulky waste from key areas.

The Mayor said, so far, more than 100 truckloads of garbage have been cleared from the streets, noting that “this effort is ongoing”.

“St. William Grant Park and the perimeter areas around the park have been a major focus of our cleanup efforts, primarily due to the ongoing issue of the unpleasant smell of human waste in this area. We have increased the cleaning schedule to three times per week, where we sanitise and disinfect around the Park. Additionally, we have also extended the opening hours for the bathrooms, so that they are available for longer periods to be used by the public,” he said.

He urged persons to take personal responsibility in keeping the park and its environs clean.

“While we are doing our part to maintain the Park, we must emphasise the importance of personal responsibility. Keeping inside and around the Park clean is a shared responsibility, and we are calling on the users of the Park to play their part,” the Mayor said.

Furthermore, he appealed to members of the public to use the bathroom facilities provided. “[They] are there for your convenience. Choosing to use these facilities instead of the open spaces not only keeps inside and around the park clean but also ensures it remains a safe and pleasant environment for everyone to enjoy. Let us all take pride in this shared space and work together to keep it welcoming,” he said.

Mayor Swaby noted, too, that the NSWMA will implement additional garbage-collection schedules throughout the downtown business district as part of efforts to ensure it remains clean and organised.