FALMOUTH, Trelawny — A derelict garbage truck is standing in the way of plans by the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) to establish temporary headquarters, prompting Falmouth Mayor C Junior Gager to give the vehicle’s owner an ultimatum to remove it or face having it towed.

Gager, who is also chairman of the TMC, told Thursday’s regular monthly meeting of the corporation that the truck is occupying the spot earmarked for two newly acquired containers, which are to be converted into offices and a meeting room.

He said repeated attempts to locate the owner have failed, despite the corporation obtaining contact information for a person believed to be associated with the vehicle.

“We have a garbage truck that is parked on the premises of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation for some time now. We have tried all that we can. It seems to be maybe a private contractor. We have tried to reach him. We cannot reach him,” Gager said.

With the project considered urgent, Gager said the TMC would not allow the abandoned vehicle to delay the work.

The abandoned garbage truck on the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s Roads and Works premises which is preventing the corporation from setting up temporary headquarters. Photos: Horace Hines

“If the truck isn’t removed within maybe another day or two, we’ll be taking it out and we’ll be placing it in an open land,” he warned.

The ultimatum comes as the TMC continues to operate from makeshift facilities following severe damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa to its previous location at the historic Falmouth Courthouse last October.

The local authority is currently operating from containerised units on the grounds of its Roads and Works premises, while other functions have been squeezed into the Roads and Works building. Its monthly meetings are being held at the Port Authority of Jamaica’s conference room at the Falmouth Port.

Gager said the two recently purchased containers are to be retrofitted to provide badly needed office and meeting space, with the work expected to be completed within about a month.

“I would be happy if next month we can move in and have our council meeting there, because you see this room is getting so small, and we want a little more space,” Gager said.

He disclosed that a portion of the funding needed is already available and that technical officers, including the acting chief engineering officer, are being mobilised to expedite the work.

“We have some funding, and we are working with it. But we are going to make sure that next month, when you come back here it is nearly finished, or it is finished, or maybe in another two weeks,” Gager told his fellow councillors.

He described the facility as a temporary but potentially long-term investment, saying it could be used for other purposes even after the corporation establishes permanent headquarters.

The mayor also disclosed plans for an official opening of the facility once the work is completed, with Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie expected to be among those invited.