Service Delivery Training for NSWMA Drivers and Sidemen

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, says that drivers and sidemen are benefiting from training as part of measures to improve service delivery.

“We are currently in the second year of training our drivers and sidemen right around the island. We are training them because we believe that the first responders must be at a particular level in terms of their own deportment, mannerisms, how they approach their job and how they feel about themselves as they undertake their daily tasks,” he said at a recent JIS Think Tank.

Mr. Gordon noted that the training sessions, which will be ongoing, provide “an excellent opportunity” for sidemen and drivers to provide feedback on their jobs.

Meanwhile, he informed that new uniforms have been approved for the team of almost 3,000 sidemen.

“Last year they got uniforms and this year they are getting a better set of uniforms at the cost of just about $50 million. We are giving each of them five uniforms so you will see our sidemen in their uniforms come June 1,” Mr. Gordon said.

He noted the salary increase for sidemen, which was announced by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in his contribution to the 2019/2020 sectoral debate on May 28.

“We have moved it from $1,200, so now it is going to be $2,000 per day. We want to give our first responders that feeling of belonging, that sense of respect and human dignity, which they deserve,” Mr. Gordon said.