Hanover Health Department embarks on garbage-clearing drive

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Hanover Health Department (HHD) has embarked on a garbage clearing drive as a health protection amid complaints from residents that the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s Western Parks and Markets (NSWMA/WPM) is falling behind on garbage collection.

A report tabled by Andrew Walker, the WPM representative, at last week’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) highlighted numerous operational challenges affecting garbage collection in 29 districts across the parish.

During the meeting, concerns were raised about the possible spread of leptospirosis, coupled with mosquito-borne infections.

Rowan Stephens, the acting chief public health inspector for Hanover, told the meeting that there were four suspected cases of leptospirosis and nine suspected dengue notifications reported to the HHD during the month of January, which has caused the department to embark on remedial projects.

“The HHD has undertaken a rodent control programme across the major towns of the parish, with some 2,209 bait stations being set. The programme will be conducted in three phases, and all stakeholders are encouraged to come onboard as we seek to rid the townships of the nuisance,” said Stephens.

He also disclosed that the HHD has started a bulky waste removal initiative in some selected communities across the parish, with a view to controlling both the mosquito and rodent population, noting the piles of garbage in those communities had been identified as breeding grounds for both mosquitoes and rodents.

While not stating the projected cost for the project, Stephens said the HHD was continuing to seek collaborative support from agencies and individuals who are willing to help.

Poor performance

Despite the explanation given by the WPM representative, councillors took the entity to task for its poor performance in addressing the garbage pile-up across the parish, saying that during the month of January, the HMC paid for front-end loaders to assist the WPM to clear the garbage backlog from several selected areas.

“At the rate at which the NSWMA/WPM is going, claiming to collect garbage every day and still having a huge backlog, it seems like we will never get this parish clean,” said Councillor Andria Dehaney-Grant, the deputy Mayor of Lucea, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Sheridan Samuels.

Dehaney-Grant also inquired of Stephens if he had any knowledge of the agency’s plans to clear the backlog of garbage across the parish, amid the rising health concerns. Stephens did not provide a timeline.

Regarding the plans of the NSWMA/WPM, Walker said that entity has started to operate a night shift in the Hanover with a view to clearing the backlog of garbage as soon as is possible. He said efforts were being made to get a non-functioning garbage disposal unit operational to aid the process.

Stephens also promised to report the concerns of the councillors about the less than satisfactory performance of the agency to his superiors.

editorial@gleanerjm.com