Western Jamaica needs better waste management

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Western Jamaica is facing a waste management crisis that threatens public health, economic recovery, and national stability.

What we are witnessing is the predictable outcome of years of underinvestment in equipment, manpower, and operational readiness.

It is time for the Government to activate a Rapid Response Waste Management Task Force with representation from the NSWMA, municipal corporations, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Ministry of Health. A coordinated, cross-agency unit is the only way to ensure that debris removal, route prioritization, and manpower deployment are executed with urgency and efficiency.

There needs to be a performance monitoring framework that forces transparency. Daily reporting on route completion, equipment availability, waste volumes, and complaint response times must become standard practice.

Given the severe equipment shortages and limited road access, the Government must integrate community brigades, youth groups, and local contractors into the clean-up effort.

Emergency public health funds must be released now to:

• Rent or lease trucks, compactors, and loaders

• Secure temporary staging sites that meet environmental standards

• Hire temporary workers for manual debris removal

• Purchase fuel, protective gear, and essential tools

The western region also needs a three-year capital investment plan to replace ageing equipment and expand fleet capacity.

Public-private partnerships that must be activated with urgency. Hardware suppliers, construction firms, agricultural cooperatives, and tourism operators all have a role to play.

Equipment sharing agreements, subsidised rentals, and corporate social responsibility contributions can significantly accelerate recovery while easing the financial burden on government.

The current waste accumulation is a national emergency. It threatens:

• Public health through mosquito breeding, rodent infestation, and contaminated water

• Economic recovery, especially in tourism dependent communities

• Social stability, as frustration grows among residents

• Environmental integrity, with debris choking drains, rivers, and coastal areas

Restoring waste management services in western Jamaica is a national obligation. This region is central to our agriculture, tourism, commerce, and cultural identity. Its recovery is essential to Jamaica’s future.

The Government should adopt these recommendations without delay. The people of western Jamaica cannot wait, and the country cannot afford further decline. Public health, national dignity, and economic stability are on the line.

HUGH PATRICK BROWN

Pembroke Pines, Florida

pbrown_436@yahoo.com