Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says public cleansing efforts will be intensified this year with the addition of 50 new trucks to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) fleet.

“In keeping with this administration’s commitment to substantial investments in the NSWMA, another batch of 50 assorted trucks is arriving as we speak,” McKenzie said, noting that 10 have already arrived on the island and another 40 are still in transit.

“Their deployment across the regions will lift the standards of service to a new level. This will go beyond general improvements in public cleansing, which I will disclose later,” he added.

The portfolio minister said the recent addition of 50 new compactor trucks to the NSWMA’s fleet has resulted in over 1.1 million tonnes of solid waste being collected over the last financial year.

“The National Solid Waste Management Authority has been facing a number of criticisms as it works to clear backlogs and ensure consistency in collecting residential waste. I know the challenges that the leadership and staff are tackling, and they have my total confidence as they work hard to rectify the problems in the field,” McKenzie said.

The minister made the comment while speaking during the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday (May 28).