By Cedric Johnson, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE CALL for prompt action to deal with the parish's garbage problem, which was made by councillors attending the recent monthly sitting of the Westmoreland Parish Council, drew a swift response from the regional public cleansing body, which is asking that the Council play by the rules.
In responding to the Council's call for action, Othniel Dawes, the senior public cleansing inspector attached to Western Parks and Markets (WPM), told the Council that it needed to ensure that when commercial building plans are being drafted and approved, provisions are made for the proper storage of refuse.
"The improper storage of garbage by commercial entities poses a problem for our collectors," said Mr. Dawes, in response to councillors' complaints that uncollected garbage in areas such as Whitehouse, Negril, Grange Hill and Darliston was fast becoming a major problem.
MOST FRUSTRATING
"No garbage unit has visited the Whitehouse area for over two weeks," said Councillor Oniel Anglin, who admitted that the situation was becoming most frustrating. "It is now becoming a bother to the residents and we must do something about it before it gets worse."
In strengthening the case made by his colleague about the frustrating garbage problem, Councillor Hopeton Tulsie said he has personally witnessed the dumping of garbage in areas not earmarked for the purpose. He went on to question whether anyone is in charge of monitoring the garbage trucks each day after they have ended their tour of duty.
"We have only five compactors to go around; so some areas can only be visited once in two weeks," said Mr. Dawes. "We are expecting some additional units by the end of the month."
While admitting that there were instances of indiscriminate dumping of garbage in various sections of the parish, he denied that any of his five WPM compactors were involved in that illicit act.
