KINGSTON, Jamaica — Grief and frustration erupted at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) headquarters as sanitation workers staged an emotional protest following the tragic death of their colleague Garfield Johnson. The sanitation worker succumbed to severe burn injuries on Tuesday, January 27, after being electrocuted during operations in the Greenwich Farm community of St Andrew eleven days prior.
According to official reports, the fatal incident occurred on January 16 when Johnson was performing his duties on a garbage truck that became entangled with live electrical wiring. Despite being rushed to medical facilities and considered for transfer to a specialized burn unit, Johnson could not overcome his critical injuries.
The protest revealed significant tension between frontline workers and management, with attendees expressing anger over perceived communication failures following the tragedy. Mourners gathered outside NSWMA offices weeping openly while displaying placards bearing messages including ‘RIP’ and ‘No justice.’
Audley Gordon, Executive Director of NSWMA, countered claims of inadequate response, stating that authority officials had maintained consistent contact with Johnson’s family since the incident and had visited him in hospital. Gordon emphasized the organization’s commitment to allowing space for collective grieving, describing Johnson as ‘a dedicated sanitation officer’ who ‘served up to the point of his demise.’
In an official statement, the NSWMA acknowledged the inherent dangers faced by sanitation workers across Jamaica and extended condolences to Johnson’s family and colleagues. The Jamaica Public Service Company has launched its own investigation into the electrocution incident, while police authorities continue their separate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the operational tragedy.