A troubling pattern of solicitation by garbage collection personnel has emerged in Mount Hope, Trinidad, prompting serious community concerns about professional conduct in municipal services. The issue gained attention following a resident’s detailed account published in Newsday’s Letters to Editor section.
The situation presents a stark contrast to the traditional appreciation for sanitation workers, recently celebrated in Scrunter’s 2025 parang musical tribute honoring garbage collectors’ contributions to community welfare.
According to Linus F Didier, a local resident, incidents of improper solicitation have occurred multiple times. On the Sunday preceding Divali celebrations, while garbage collection was rescheduled due to the holiday, a collector allegedly approached residents requesting money “to buy a doubles” while visibly holding a half-consumed beer bottle. When ignored, the individual proceeded to make similar requests to female neighbors.
This was not an isolated occurrence. Several months earlier, around 5:15 AM, the same individual reportedly solicited funds “to buy some tea” from residents. These incidents stand in sharp contrast to the previously excellent service record maintained by retired crew members who served the Mt Hope area for years without such complaints.
The community has expressed particular concern about the safety implications, especially for female residents approached by sanitation workers during collection hours. The incidents have raised questions about worker supervision and professional standards within the contracted services.
Residents are calling for intervention from the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation, urging officials to address these issues with their contractors while still acknowledging the valuable service provided by ethical garbage collectors throughout Trinidad and Tobago.