Jamaica hires 500 sweepers, 300 private vehicles to run cleaning drive

The National Solid Waste Management Authority of Jamaica (NSWMA) has hired an additional 500 sweepers and 300 private dumper and garbage vehicles to help with the country's public sanitation efforts.

Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, announced during Tuesday's House of Representatives session.

The sweepers will be concentrated "in the country's principal town centres and thoroughfares to ensure that sweeping is done regularly," he said. This extra 500 individuals will supplement the NSWMA's current workforce of 500 workers."

The private units, according to McKenzie, will be deployed across the country to help with bulky rubbish removal and other public-cleaning duties.

Meanwhile, he told the House that illegal dumping in St James, Kingston, and other island sections are being removed.

"We have eliminated a huge number of these illegal facilities and put in place the appropriate measures to guarantee that no further illegal dumping occurs at these sites around the country," McKenzie added.

He went on to say that the registered landfills will remain open until midnight, and rubbish will be collected until 11:00 p.m. in a few specified regions.

"These steps are intended to assist lessen the solid waste backlog that our folks are experiencing in various regions of the country." Significant effort has already been done to reduce the amount of [trash] that has accumulated, and this project will expedite the process while also ensuring that any garbage generated during the holiday season is properly treated," McKenzie added.

Meanwhile, the minister issued a warning to businesses about illegal rubbish disposal.

"I'm warning the commercial sector that we have tools in place to identify where waste is generated, and we're willing to take the toughest measures to achieve full compliance," he said.