NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The Negril Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking audience with Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie and executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Audley Gordon in relation to what is described as a breakdown in regular garbage collection that is now threatening the reputation of the world-famous resort town.

The constituencies of Hanover Western and Westmoreland Western share Negril.

The issue of irregular collection was brought up during the chamber’s general meeting on Tuesday.

“We’re all very, very concerned about the situation with the garbage and we’ve done everything, including writing letters and contacting people, but we really feel like the whole situation needs to be escalated,” chamber President Damian Salmon told the Jamaica Observer.

“I was in the bus park the other day and the two skips there are just overflowing onto the ground and look like they haven’t been emptied in, I don’t know how long. And then, up and down the road, particularly on the West End, there’s garbage just piled up on the sides of the road and it seems there’s no communication from NSWMA. We would love to hear what they have to say about it.

“Do they have problems with the trucks? Do they have problems with staffing? We don’t know, because we don’t hear anything. And what we would really love to do is to get some good lines of communication between us in the community and NSWMA,” added the chamber president.

The Observer team travelled along Norman Manley Boulevard and the West End on Tuesday, and in most cases overflowing public and private garbage containers were observed. Other areas such as White Hall are also having an issue with garbage pile-up.

Operator of Lighthouse Inn II on the West End Dalton “Penny” Hill said he believes that an audience with the authorities is a good start, “because we have good ideas and I believe they should take our ideas”.

Hill has amplified an ongoing call for the establishment of a transfer station for the parish where trucks would dump the garbage to later be transported to Retirement Landfill in St James.

A Tourism Product Development Company-sponsored garbage basket overflowing with garbage in Negril.

“[It is] not enough for the truck to leave Negril and go all the way to Montego Bay once a day or twice a day. That’s not enough to pick up the garbage in Negril.

“We’re saying the garbage trucks should stay in the area and do five trips or more with a distance that is comfortable for the driver,” argued Hill, who noted that this would make it easier for the authority that currently has an insufficient number of compactors in its fleet.

Hill argued that as a major resort town Negril deserves better.

“We’re hoping that they can work with us without any animosity and listen to us. We are not in any war with anybody. We just want them to listen and understand that it’s urgent,” stated Hill

The prominent hotelier said the situation is not only an eyesore, but is unhygienic, “and we don’t want to lose our tourist industry”.

He said that, especially on the West End, people are often awakened to the horrific sight after dogs have a field day with the garbage at night.

Additionally, he said, tourists “and the people who jog in the mornings are complaining…”

When contacted, regional operations manager for Western Parks and Markets Dramaine Jones said there was an issue with the units.

“What should have happened was the rerouting of a unit. That never happened in time. So the cleaning would have been late. But also, the other issue that I’m realising as well is that there’s a lot of waste being produced, especially on the Norman Manley Boulevard side and West End,” Jones said.

He noted that while a deep cleaning is done twice per week on the West End, collection is done daily at areas regarded as hot spots.

He also pointed out that the authority is not responsible for the collection of all waste.

“You have some businesses that are done by private collection. So these private collections basically sometimes are late with their duties, but we get the blame because we are responsible for everything garbage,” stated Jones.

In relation to the creation of a transfer station, Jones said that was raised recently as a suggestion, but he noted that while funding was identified at one point, the project never materialised. However, he said work on that solution is now far advanced.

“The executive director will speak more to that in the coming days. But some preliminary work has been ongoing and we want to get something in place in short order because that has become more timely now more than ever because right now, in terms of the transportation challenges between Savanna-la-Mar and Montego Bay and Negril and Montego Bay, it’s very challenging for collection units. So we have to put something in place that ensures that can increase efficiency,” Jones shared.

Meanwhile, he is calling on the public to start utilising other methods of waste reduction such as recycling, “because a lot of the garbage that we’re seeing is just getting really out of hand”.

A garbage containment area on Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, overflowing with solid waste.

Garbage receptacles on the side of the Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril.