KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government will launch a national clean-up exercise next week, beginning in Westmoreland, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie announced during a press briefing on Wednesday.

The initiative was also announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

McKenzie said regular garbage collection will continue, but operations will be intensified as the state has acquired additional private trucks to support the effort. The clean-up programme will focus first on the 16 constituencies most severely affected.

“The exercise will take place over a two- to three-week period,” McKenzie said. “I want to make the point that we may not be able to accomplish all that we want in that period, but the necessary arrangements are in place if we need to go beyond.”

The minister also appealed to citizens and private stakeholders to assist.

“The call is being made for well-thinking Jamaicans to join in this exercise. If you have a truck, a tractor or a backhoe, you can make it available when we go to the respective parishes,” he urged.

The Social Development Commission (SDC) will coordinate with Members of Parliament and councillors, with each constituency expected to provide approximately 200 workers for the programme. While some participants will receive a stipend, McKenzie encouraged Jamaicans who are able to volunteer their time.

“This is a national issue,” he said. “We are not ignoring other parts of the island, because the programme will cover the entire country. But in the parishes that have been badly affected, and based on the level of waste generated, this clean-up exercise will take us a step further in achieving the government’s recovery objectives.”

McKenzie noted that provisions have already been made for the purchase of additional trucks to sustain ongoing clean-up and recovery efforts.