Marvell Sewell, councillor for the Green Island in Hanover, is calling for Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Chairman Dennis Chung and NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon to immediately address the garbage issue that has overrun his division.

“Rats and rodents are overtaking the division due to the untimely and improper disposal of garbage, which poses an acute health risk for the many families and, in particular, the children who ply the route daily to and from school,” said Sewell.

Sewell is calling for the NSWMA to fulfil its mandate of ensuring that waste is collected, stored, transported, recycled and reused, or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

He warned that the failure of the NSWMA is likely to result in an impending disaster as minidumps are being created all over Hanover due to the lack of garbage collection.

He noted that areas of Negril in Westmoreland, where there are hotels and tourist destinations, are cleaned regularly.

Sewell added: “It would seem to me that the people of Green Island are not entitled to the same standard of cleanliness that our visitors have become accustomed to. This is absolutely unacceptable, and the Ministry of Local Government must address this issue immediately.”