KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby is imploring owners/contractors of trucks which are engaged in construction and road repair services to ensure no illegal dumping is taking place by the operators of these vehicles.

Swaby made the call during a visit to an illegal dump site on Friday in 9 Miles, Bull Bay in St Andrew.

“We came to look at the situation that exists at the mouth of the Chalky River. Obviously some illegal dumping has been taking place here…We have examined the debris and we have seen road materials, we have also seen washing machines, building construction materials,” Swaby said.

“Clearly a lot of the truck men — and it appears to me that some of these truck men are from the road that was being fixed recently — they haven’t carried it (debris) to the dump. What they have done, they have dumped it here and I would implore on contractors that when they are paying for these services they should ensure that they have seen a receipt where persons carry things to the dump,” the mayor continued.

Making the point that it is critical to address the practice of illegal dumping in the area, Swaby noted that heavy rainfall could lead to the washing of the debris into the sea which will affect marine life.

He said he will be having further discussions with the National Solid Waste Management Agency.

“I will certainly ask the CEO to write China Harbour just to highlight that this is taking place and to ask them to make sure that none of their — while I am not accusing them of doing it — that none of the persons who work on their site are dumping right here,” Swaby said.