TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has ordered an immediate clean-up of debris in the historic town of Falmouth following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which left piles of garbage and blocked drains across sections of Trelawny.

McKenzie said he has instructed the mayor of Falmouth to intensify efforts to restore normalcy, including the hiring of additional trucks to speed up the removal of waste and debris.

“I have given instructions to the mayor that immediate drain cleaning must be undertaken, and they must hire extra trucks to assist in removing the debris out of the town of Falmouth,” the minister said.

“They have started already, but I’ve said to him, get more trucks in the system to help to alleviate the conditions,” McKenzie added.

The minister noted that local authorities have encountered challenges identifying a suitable temporary site to deposit the debris as the clean-up progresses. However, he disclosed plans to seek assistance from the Port Authority of Jamaica to use a nearby location as a temporary waylay station.

“They are complaining that there’s an area that they want to use to dump the rubbish as a waylay station, so you dump it and the trucks can come again,” McKenzie explained.

“I’m going to be speaking to the Port Authority to ask them to allow it because it is not going to be a permanent dump site. It is somewhere just for the garbage to lay over so that the trucks can have access instead of coming into the town of Falmouth”.

The minister’s directive comes as residents and business operators continue to express frustration over the slow pace of debris removal and concerns about health and sanitation in the aftermath of the storm.

McKenzie assured that his ministry remains committed to restoring cleanliness and order in Falmouth and other affected areas across western Jamaica.