KINGSTON, Jamaica — A total of $35 million has been spent through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to brand and install 1000 ‘Spruce Up’ garbage disposal bins as part of efforts to reduce littering island wide.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Tourism’s ‘Spruce Up’ campaign, which seeks to provide a clean and aesthetically appealing environment to increase attractiveness for visitors and businesses in Jamaica’s resort areas.

Speaking at the official handover of the garbage disposal bins yesterday at flag circle in downtown Kingston, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett reiterated the need to safeguard the environment.

“Putting trash and rubble around the place impacts the health security of our communities and areas and puts us all at risk with diseases due to unsanitary conditions. We in tourism are guardians of health security and enabling an environment that is conducive to life and to keep more and more people healthy as part of our overall commitment to a safe, secure and seamless destination,” he said.

The ministry said the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation has received 97 garbage bins and the remaining bins have been installed in most areas across the island.

Bartlett said: “The enhancement of our township is about our people first and if we get it right and it is clean and appropriate for our Jamaicans then it will be clean and appropriate for the visitors who come. So Kingston has to get it right and this expenditure will help to build out the capabilities for cleanliness within the communities.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism, through Spruce Up Jamaica, embarked on a $340,000,000 programme with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to implement the Tourism Resort Maintenance Programme.

The programme will focus on keeping resort areas such as Negril, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Treasure Beach and Kingston clean and sanitary to meet global standards.