PM Launches Post-Hurricane Beryl Cleanup Campaign
By: , July 26, 2024
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, observes as workers from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) remove old motorcars under the Derelict Vehicles and Bulky Waste Removal programme. The post-Hurricane Beryl national clean-up exercise was officially launched on July 24 at the Waterford Community Centre in Portmore, St. Catherine.
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Workers from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) remove an old, abandoned refrigerator, as the Derelict Vehicles and Bulky Waste Removal programme got underway in Portmore, St. Catherine on Wednesday (July 24). Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, officially launched the post-Hurricane Beryl national clean-up exercise at the Waterford Community Centre.The Full Story
The Government is undertaking a national campaign for the removal of bulky waste and eradication of mosquito breeding sites from communities following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, launched the Derelict Vehicles and Bulky Waste Removal programme at the Waterford Community Centre in Portmore, St. Catherine on Wednesday (July 24).
The initiative, which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), will involve extensive, island-wide cleanup, bushing and removal of debris.
Just over $500 million has been allocated to the NSWMA to undertake the programme.
Focus will be placed on removing old cars, refrigerators and other bulky waste from communities, which provide breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The Prime Minister said that the 50 trucks, which the NSWMA acquired in June, will be utilised in the clean-up exercise. The units are comprised of compacter, crane, tipper and scout trucks.
Noting the increase in the mosquito population in Portmore in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the Prime Minister said that 100 workers will be deployed to the municipality to support the clean-up activities.
“When we do this exercise, I guarantee you the breeding sites for the mosquitoes will be removed,” he assured.
Prime Minister Holness said that allocations have also been made to other entities as part of post-Beryl recovery activities.
He informed that the National Works Agency (NWA) has received approximately $800 million “to go right across Jamaica and look at all the drains that are blocked, particularly the earthen drains and to clean those …to relieve areas that are waterlogged. That exercise has already begun.”
“So, between the NSWMA and the NWA, $1.3 billion has been allocated,” he pointed out.
In addition, he said that funds have been provided to the Ministry of Health and Wellness for mosquito fogging under the national vector control programme.