ST JAMES, Jamaica — Phase two of the clean-up of Black River in St Elizabeth is now underway, with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) deploying additional resources to accelerate debris removal following Hurricane Melissa.

During clean-up activities in the town on Monday, Executive Director of the NSWMA, Audley Gordon, said the renewed push follows initial post-hurricane operations that focused on critical facilities.

“We are in phase two of our clean-up of the Black River space. In phase one, right after the hurricane, we came in…and we did an excellent job cleaning up the hospital compound, the health centre and the environs,” he said.

He noted that more than 200 trips of debris were removed from the area during that initial phase but acknowledged that limited capacity constrained wider operations across the town. That situation, he said, has since changed.

“Thanks to the Government of Jamaica, we got 10 brand-new trucks…to assist in this effort. With improved capacity, we are now committed to pushing ahead with a full clean-up of Black River,” he emphasised.

Gordon indicated that crews will remain in the town for as long as is necessary to complete the work.

“We will continue in this space until it’s clean. Whether it takes us two weeks, a month, I’m not giving any definitive time…it will be removed, one trip at a time,” he assured.

Meanwhile, Regional Operations Manager for SPM Waste Management Limited, Sheldon Smith, said the clean-up represents a major operational challenge, but reaffirmed the team’s commitment.

“It has been a big task…here in Black River. We are here today working hard…we are not relenting and we are up to the task,” he assured.

He appealed for patience from residents, noting that steady progress will yield long-term benefits.

“There’s a little mountain to climb, but as we reach the top, there is a plateau and things will get better. We will have a better Black River,” Smith said.

For his part, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and Member of Parliament for the area, Floyd Green, said debris removal remains critical to Black River’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

“For the town to get back to some semblance of normalcy, debris has to be removed,” Green said.

“This is part of a national clean-up effort happening right across the hard-hit parishes,” he added. “It is going to be a dual phase going into the new year where we focus on not only the central towns but also on the communities.”

— JIS