RESIDENTS of Greenwich Town, St Andrew, and Greater Portmore in St Catherine should be breathing easier at the news that the often-malfunctioning sewage treatment plants in their communities are to be closed.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda made the announcement on Tuesday during his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives.

He framed the move as “fulfilling a central commitment to the people of Greenwich Farm”.

“We will be closing the cesspool-emptying facility which has long been a source of pain to that community and has affected the school, and we expect to start the construction [of a new facility] this year,” Samuda said.

“I think that it has been too long, and for the members [of parliament] who represent constituencies in Portmore, we’ve also started the design process for the relocation of the Greater Portmore sewage plant, as well as the sewering of many of the communities that have suffered,” he added.

Residents of Greenwich Town in the St Andrew South Western constituency have frequently complained about the stench that often emanates from the National Water Commission (NWC) sewage plant. Despite promises made by the NWC — over the past decade — that the problem would be addressed, this has not happened, and residents are often left to cope with the foul stench that frequently blankets sections of the community.

The leadership of the Greenwich Primary School and Caribbean Palms Early Childhood Institution have told the Jamaica Observer that they are often forced to close their doors as the children struggle to cope with the foul odour, with some becoming sick. Community residents have also voiced their concerns about the long-standing problem.

At least one of the schools has attributed a drop in attendance to the sewage plant.

In March 2025 Samuda shared that the NWC had initiated emergency rehabilitation works at the Greater Portmore sewage pond. The rehabilitation works were aimed at addressing the severe and recurring challenges affecting residents, students and businesses in the area, he said then.

Following a tour of the facility at the time, Samuda admitted the severity of the problem.

“The current condition of the western sewage ponds has led to intolerable conditions affecting citizens living in proximity and students of Greater Portmore High School. The western ponds will require a similar level of upgrade completed at the eastern sewage ponds in 2022, which were completed at a cost of $935 million,” he said then.

On Tuesday Samuda did not elaborate on the planned closure of either facility or give a timeline for when the works will be completed.

While the cesspool trucks that utilise the Greenwich Town facility are said to contribute to the problems facing that facility, Greater Portmore faced other issues.

Samuda noted last year that with the rapid growth of Portmore’s population and improper disposal of personal hygiene products — including condoms and sanitary napkins — a strain is on the existing infrastructure, which necessitated immediate intervention.

While interventions at both facilities have brought temporary relief, a more long-term solution is now on the cards.

Acting principal of Greenwich Primary School Andrea Richards pointing to the NWC sewage plant which has for years been the cause of a heavy stench blanketing the school.

The stench from this gully in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, is an indication of what residents have had to endure daily. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Caribbean Palms Early Childhood Institution, whose students have suffered from the stench from the first day it opened.