PNP plans to strip NSWMA of garbagecollection duties
The People’s National Party (PNP) said it is dedicated to implementing a sustainable waste-disposal solution that will ensure the timely and efficient collection of garbage across the country.
The party, in its manifesto issued on Thursday ahead of Monday’s local government election, said it will remove the responsibility of garbage collection and disposal from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and give it to the local authorities.
Garbage collection and disposal has been a sore point on the island. Communities across the island have been complaining about a pile-up of garbage, which the NSWMA said is due to it not having enough compactor trucks to effectively perform its duties.
The Government said it will be purchasing 50 compactor trucks in the 2024-25 fiscal year to improve garbage collection islandwide. However, the PNP, in its manifesto, said policy changes are needed to effectively deal with the problem. The party has pledged to limit the role of the NSWMA to enforcement and regulation.
“This strategic move deepens democratic accountability by ensuring elected local representatives are directly responsible to citizens for efficient garbage collection,” the PNP said.
In the meantime, the PNP said it would empower local authorities in managing local amenities such as parking facilities and bus parks to enhance revenue generation, and hold them accountable for their performance. The party said it will introduce new regulations to address issues such as street food vending and the operations of beauty establishments, such as barber and cosmetology shops.
In the realm of entertainment, the PNP has committed to enacting a comprehensive development strategy for Kingston, recognised as a designated Creative City of Music. Additionally, the party has vowed to streamline the process of obtaining permits for various entertainment events, making it more accessible for promoters. This includes introducing a simplified application system, where a single permit can cover a series of round-robin parties, eliminating the need for separate applications for each event within the series.
In the area of health, the PNP said it will re-establish public board of health within the operational responsibility of the municipal corporations. It also said that it would implement comprehensive
Garbage collection and disposal has been a sore point on the island. health education programmes at “The PNP recognises the the community level to promote intrinsic connection between preventive care and healthy lifestyles. individual well-being and economic prosperity, so healthcare initiatives must start local,” the party’s manifesto said.