Opposition wants action on uncollected garbage amid Hurricane Beryl

The Opposition is calling for the swift removal of uncollected garbage in communities which poses a clear and present danger to the area in the wake of expected flood rains and wind from Hurricane Beryl.

Spokesperson on Local Government, Natalie Neita Garvey says the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) should move to undertake a plan to remove the backlog of solid waste.

In a statement today, she 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,” argued Neita Garvey.

Neita Garvey said further that 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 argued that 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 for Local Government Minister, 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).

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, 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.