Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby wasn’t a happy man on Tuesday. The source of his misery was complaints from a number of communities in the municipality that garbage had not been collected for up to two months.

Unable to mask his disappointment, the capital city’s first citizen called out the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). At the same time, he reprimanded residents who are making the situation worse by poor waste disposal practices.

“Councillors, there are ongoing issues with garbage collection across the municipality. Residents in several communities are experiencing serious backlog of domestic garbage. In some communities they are complaining of waste not being collected for six to eight weeks. This situation is unacceptable and poses both a health and environmental risk,” Mayor Swaby told his local government colleagues during the monthly meeting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

The meeting was held in the Marcus Garvey Council Chambers at the KSAMC in downtown Kingston.

“The National Solid Waste Management Authority is responsible for these services but collection has not been consistent. I am aware that the NSWMA often points to rain as a challenge, especially when accessing the dump. However, this should not be resulting in garbage being left uncollected for such prolonged periods,” said Swaby, who is the People’s National Party councillor for the Vineyard Town Division.

Additionally, he raised concern about the sweeping of streets.

“We have also observed that sweeping is not taking place on a regular basis, particularly in the heart of downtown in Parade, on King Street and West Queen Street. As a result, the KSAMC has had to employ external support to keep the streets clean. What is even more concerning is the suspicion that some persons employed by the National Solid Waste Management Authority to carry out these duties are being paid but little or no work is actually being done,” Swaby said.

“I am calling on the National Solid Waste Management Authority to take action to address these delays and ensure that both residential and public areas get the attention they require. The KSAMC remains ready to support these efforts but it is critical that the national agency fulfils its responsibilities promptly and consistently,” Swaby said.

On the matter of poor waste disposal practices by some residents, Swaby said: “Proper disposal of waste and ensuring that garbage is securely bagged are simple but important steps to help prevent the accumulation of garbage. When we travel abroad, we admire the clean streets and follow the rules, yet when we are in Jamaica, many of us throw garbage anywhere and behave like cleanliness is someone else’s responsibility. It is careless, nasty, and it must stop. Maintaining cleaner streets and public spaces is a shared responsibility. We must work together to ensure that our residents can live in a clean and well-managed environment.”

The mayor also reported that members of the KSAMC’s Public Health and Sanitation Committee have agreed on several objectives, including a joint quarterly review of reporting processes.

“We will also seek closer monitoring and management of sewer line blockages and provide enhanced oversight to road cuts. These measures aim to strengthen collaboration and ensure more efficient and responsible services for our residents,” he said.