PM Hands Over 20 New Garbage Trucks To NSWMA
By: , July 24, 2020
Photo: Mark Bell
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (fourth left), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over 20 new garbage trucks to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) at Jamaica House on Thursday (July 23). Others (pictured from left) are Senior Pastor at the Webster Memorial United Church, Rev. Astor Carlyle; NSWMA board member, Camille Facey; Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Ckarke; Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; and NSWMA Chairman, Dennis Chung.
Photo: Mark Bell
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), points out something of interest to Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. The Hon. Nigel Clarke (left); and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), as they view the new garbage trucks acquired for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). The units were officially handed over during a ceremony at Jamaica House on Thursday (July 23).
Photo: Mark Bell
Some of the 20 new garbage trucks that were officially handed over to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a ceremony at Jamaica House on Thursday (July 23).The Full Story
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Thursday (July 23) officially handed over 20 new trucks to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), which will improve garbage collection across the island.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Jamaica House, Mr. Holness said that the Government is making capital investments in equipment that will improve service delivery and build the capacity of the NSWMA.
“It is important to note that in the last four years, 63 [trucks] have been added, ” he noted.
“It is a major achievement and the Government is serious about enhancing the service,” he added.
The Prime Minister, in the meantime, pointed to the need for a culture change to address littering and foster greater care for the environment.
He noted that a cleaner environment will attract investment in communities.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in his remarks, said the trucks will be distributed across the island, to strengthen collection and transportation of solid waste.
St. James, Clarendon, the Corporate Area and the Municipality of Portmore will receive two trucks each to deal with the increasing demand for garbage collection, with the other parishes to receive one unit each. The remaining trucks will be used for commercial collection.
Minister McKenzie informed that the company that supplied the trucks is providing training to the drivers to ensure that they are properly operated and maintained.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, for his part, said that the Government, through investment in the acquisition of additional garbage trucks, is signaling support “for radical improvement in waste management and garbage collection”.
Chairman of the NSWMA, Dennis Chung, said the leadership and staff of the agency welcome the new units.
He said that “a lack of reliable trucks has been one of the biggest challenges facing the entity”, noting that the boost to the fleet will improve garbage collection throughout the country.
The NSWMA provides solid waste management services across the island in order to safeguard public health, while helping to create an environment that is healthy and aesthetically pleasing for residents and visitors to enjoy.