KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has commended staff of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) for their role in improving the operations of the agency.

He said that despite “trying circumstances”, the workers have “brought significant difference” to the NSWMA operations.

He also hailed the board under the chairmanship of Dennis Chung for “putting in place the necessary management structure to ensure that there is efficiency within the organisation”.

The minister was speaking at the NSWMA’s annual christmas tree-lighting ceremony and concert at Mandela Park in St Andrew on December 15.

McKenzie also expressed confidence in the competence of the agency’s newly appointed executive director, Audley Gordon.

“Your organisation has got someone who is committed and will be able to undertake the work that is required to be done,” he told the staff in attendance.

Gordon, in his remarks, pledged the NSWMA’s commitment to fulfil its mandate to keep the country clean, vowing to make this Christmas “the cleanest ever”.

In a previous interview with JIS News, Gordon informed that he would be working to further improve the agency’s operational efficiency, with particular focus on financial and human resources management.

The executive director noted, as well, that he would be placing focus on improving communication with the public in order to enhance transparency and raise awareness about the work of the entity.

Gordon said the intention is to “be more open and transparent, to communicate more and keep the public informed, so that they will know what the agency is doing every step of the way”.

The mandate of the NSWMA is to ensure a clean Jamaica by managing solid waste effectively through public cleansing, adherence to public health and environmental standards, public education and enforcement programmes.