The government is to purchase at least a dozen garbage trucks to service the heavily populated areas and it is expected that citizens will have to shell out cash for the service.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon told the media on Wednesday that the vehicles “would be distributed and become the property of the major population areas, townships and municipalities.”
He added that the trucks in conjunction with the sites identified in those areas would promote the implementation of the Solid Waste Strategic Plan. He was unable to say how much money would be spent procuring the vehicles.
As it relates to payment for the service the Cabinet Secretary said a number of initiatives surfaced during Cabinet outreaches and through formal proposals from the Ministry of Local Government. “Primarily a fee-for-service is on the front-burner that is independent of the collection of rates, residential or otherwise.
A specific, clearly designated fund to be collected from residents of the areas serviced by this solid waste initiative would be provided for statutorily or otherwise and that would see the operation and maintenance of these trucks,” he explained.
Garbage collection has been a major problem over the years particularly in the city, where waste disposal companies have suspended collection over monies owed by the beleaguered Mayor and City Council.
