KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) conducted a major clean-up operation on Heywood Street on Sunday clearing drains and removing debris from the roadway, a move that has been welcomed by vendors in the area.

According to Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby, this latest clean up activity is part of the Cleaner Kingston initiative to rid downtown Kingston of garbage.

“Under the Cleaner Kingston initiative, we would have given a month notice to the vendors on Haywood Street that we are coming in to clean. What we have done, washed down there, we have taken away the junk, carted away the junk along the roadside and in the Queens Market. We have cleared the drains because it was clogged up because sanitation is very important to the KSAMC and the vendors’ and patrons’ health are also important,” Swaby said.

Crews from the KSAMC conducted clean-up activities on Beckford Street in recent weeks, with representatives from the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) present to assess the area.

READ: WATCH: KSAMC to fix sewage, streetlight problems on Beckford Street

Swaby said the KSAMC will continue to conduct clean-up activities in the downtown Kingston area but will be doing so on a street-by-street basis.

He noted that the vendors are pleased with the cleanup activities and the consultative approach taken by the KSAMC.

“[This] is good because sometimes a lot rat and roach deh on the road. A food stuff me sell so me no want no rat a run out a my stall nor no roach. A shoulda every week it a wash or every month,” said Toleen Edwards, a vendor who conducts business on Heywood Street.

Meanwhile, Swaby said taxi operators are causing traffic congestion on Heywood Street and announced that he will meet with police, the taxi operators and the head of the taxi association to address the issue.

The mayor said the discussions will focus on finding ways to alleviate delays and improve traffic flow.