Natalie Neita Garvey Warns of Threat Posed by Pile up of Uncollected Garbage in Some Communities

Kingston, Jamaica. July 2, 2024: Shadow Minister of Local Government, Mrs. Natalie Neita Garvey is urging swift removal of uncollected garbage in several communities, which poses a clear and present danger to the communities in the wake of expected flood rains and wind from Hurricane Beryl. Consequently, she is calling for an urgent implementation of a plan by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to remove the backlog of solid waste.

In a statement today, the Shadow Minister said she received several reports from residential areas across the island raising serious concern. The pile up is not only a source of projectiles from high-speed winds but can pose a health risk as it flows through flood waters in communities.

Mrs. Neita Garvey said further, the garbage backlog could not be ignored as it is a source of materials to clog stormwater drains and increase the possibility of flooding in these communities. As a result, she said, the NSWMA with its increased fleet of garbage compactors must move rapidly to head off this potential threat.

The Opposition Local Government spokesperson said although the country was already under a Hurricane Warning, there was sufficient time for NSWMA work crews to clear the larger piles and mitigate the potential for flooding and health risk.

She is therefore calling on the Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, to ensure that the NSWMA follows through on the plan of action of preparatory actions being overseen by his Ministry and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).