The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has declared that it is stepping up disaster preparations, despite facing a reduced fleet and mounting complaints about garbage collection in St. Thomas.
During a report to the Disaster Committee of the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation last Thursday, the NSWMA representative said the agency is in preparation mode for the hurricane season and any other disaster.
As part of it’s preparation, the state agency says it is currently training staff members to use equipment such as power saws if there is a hurricane and there is the need to clear roads.
In addition the NSWMA says it is conducting fire warden training.
The Authority confirmed that garbage truck operations in the parish have dropped to just five units, with some contractors having reportedly moved their trucks to Kingston, a 30 per cent reduction from the seven units usually available.
That shortage has led to what councillors described as a barrage of complaints across Eastern St. Thomas, with residents reporting missed pickups and delays.
Communication
Councillors in St. Thomas are also calling for better communication from the NSWMA when garbage collection is disrupted.
Several councillors complained at the meeting that residents often direct their frustration to them when garbage is not collected, while the NSWMA provides little or no direct public update on service disruptions.
They are urging the Authority to issue advisories whenever truck breakdowns or other operational delays affect collections, so residents know what to expect.
In response, the NSWMA said it makes every effort to keep councillors informed about challenges affecting their divisions.
The Authority also noted that some communities have operated with once-weekly garbage collection for years and encouraged residents to continue practising proper waste management.
The committee maintains that clearer and more timely communication from the NSWMA would help reduce frustration among residents and ease the burden on local representatives until the issues affecting the truck fleet are resolved.