Jamaica’s National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has achieved a significant milestone in its massive post-hurricane cleanup operation, having removed 15,000 truckloads of debris from the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. The government has dramatically bolstered these efforts through the strategic donation of 10 new tipper trucks valued at approximately $200 million, aimed at accelerating the monumental task ahead.
NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon expressed profound gratitude for the equipment infusion during a commissioning ceremony at the agency’s St. Andrew headquarters. ‘This offer of 10 trucks is more than welcome at this time,’ Gordon stated, emphasizing the heightened waste management challenges during the Christmas season when garbage generation typically increases.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the scale of the challenge, acknowledging the overwhelming but not insurmountable task of clearing an estimated 4.8 million tonnes of storm debris. The government has initiated international partnerships to secure additional heavy machinery, including advanced negotiations with the People’s Republic of China for excavators, front-end loaders, and other specialized equipment to enhance cleanup capabilities.
The comprehensive debris management strategy involves multiple agencies, with the Jamaica Defence Force and National Works Agency playing crucial roles in equipment deployment and operations. Holness provided reassurances to concerned citizens, explaining that organic debris would naturally decompose or be repurposed as compost, while priority would be given to removing hazardous materials including construction waste, damaged infrastructure components, and household debris from the most severely affected communities like Black River in St. Elizabeth.