On Tuesday morning (June 30) The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) officially added four water trucks to their fleet, allocating one unit to each region (MPM, WPM, SPM, NEPM). The units were acquired by the entity to bolster the agency’s resilience building exercise.
The trucks, which will be used for day-to-day operations such as transporting water to regional offices and outstations will also be used for wetting drylands to prevent fires and washing town centres, while also playing a key role in preparing and responding during times of disaster.
During the handing over ceremony, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that these trucks will add to the current complement of vehicles that the National Solid Waste Management Authority has in their taskforce.
“We have given to the organization, more than 130 trucks in various forms over the last 10 years… these four new additions, comes on the heels of the 10 tipper trucks that was provided last year,” he said.
“When Catherine Hall was covered by mud, if we had these trucks, in Catherine Hall, it would have made a significant difference in the time that we spent cleaning Catherine Hall and so these trucks will be provided to the four regions, each region will have one” he added.
The Minister also stated that an additional four trucks will be procured in the new financial year as the agency continues to ramp up their manpower, heavy equipment and public education efforts.
“In the new financial year, we’re going to be making provisions for another four trucks” he said.
The National Solid Waste Management Authority has been the driving force is removing bulky waste, derelict vehicles and debris since the passage of hurricane Melissa. The agency recently launched Operation CALM, as they continue to do their part restoring and maintaining Jamaica’s beauty.
