Opposition calls for comprehensive garbage collection and disposal plan

Opposition spokesperson on local government, Natalie Neita Garvey, is calling for Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, to immediately implement a clear plan and allocate the necessary financial resources to address the massive pile-up of domestic solid waste and debris across the island.

In a statement on Saturday, Neita Garvey said the mounting garbage represents a clear and present danger to the health of Jamaicans in every parish.

The Opposition Spokesperson noted that, despite the difficult working conditions in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) must adopt more creative and effective strategies to keep the country clean and reduce escalating health risks.

She asserted that "it is evident that collection schedules across all parishes have collapsed, with the domestic backlog now compounded by hurricane-related waste, creating an unprecedented islandwide crisis."

She said that as a result, many citizens have started resorting to unsafe disposal practices.

Neita Garvey emphasised that the situation requires proactive leadership from the local government minister, urging him to "move beyond excuses and take decisive action to prevent a major public health emergency and restore normality to communities."

She further stated that, based on consultations with several municipal corporations across Jamaica, the moment calls for a comprehensive, coordinated national plan that combines state and private-sector resources, including compactors and crane trucks, to mount a serious and immediate assault on the problem.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.