By Dale McNish, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
SECTIONS OF Hanover continue to be affected by piles of garbage as a result of a breakdown in garbage collection in the parish by Western Parks and Market (WPM), and there have been renewed calls to withhold payments to the agency.
"The Council should withhold subvention from WPM until the service is improved. We could provide a better service if we were getting the money and equipment they are getting," declared Winston Stair, Councillor of the Lucea Division.
The agency is paid a monthly subvention of $666,666.67.
Four months ago at a general meeting of the Parish Council, Lucea's Mayor, Lloyd Hill said payments to WPM should be withheld because for nearly two months garbage was piled up in the Lucea, Hopewell, Green Island and Sandy Bay areas.
"We are not getting the desired service from WPM and the sad thing (is that) they have to be paid whether the work is done satisfactorily or not. We should be able to withhold the cheques," he had said.
The Mayor charged that too often the trucks were broken down or just not available and garbage is left on the streets for days and weeks uncollected.
The Councillors have also expressed anger over WPM's refusal to attend meetings, and after numerous correspondence to general manager Cleveland Miller outlining their concerns the situation remains the same.
The Gleaner has leaned that the Public Health and Sanitation Committee had invited Anna Treasure, managing director of Metropolitan Parks and Market (MPM) to attend its monthly meeting on Monday but she did not show up.
The town of Falmouth in Trelawny is also plagued with the pile up of garbage particularly after 'bend down' market on a Wednesday. Last Thursday on entering the town the stench that emanates from the streets and the market is said to be unbearable.
The citizens are reportedly disappointed by a presentation made by Ms. Treasure to the Chamber of Commerce meeting last week. "All she came with was theory, she is a theoretical person, everything for her is on paper, as for practicality she is not ready, she doesn't seem to know what she is doing," said an upset Chamber member.
The Councillors are also uncertain as to whether WPM is still in charge of garbage collection based on the government's plan to implement a solid waste management.
In a letter dated November 8, 2000, from the Ministry of Local Government and copied to WPM and all Parish Councils it stated that the Government has established an interim solid waste management board to oversee the transitional arrangements under the chairmanship of Aston Stewart.
"MPM has been assigned responsible for implementing the transition arrangement and in that regard Anna Treasure has been designated to take charge of operations of WPM as of November 1, 2000."
