Dump residents tired of the garbage

Residents at Dump in St Mary are worried about the possibility of rodent infestation due to a pile-up of uncollected garbage in their community.

"Unless they come and collect the garbage that is piling up, rats will take us over," said Tadrea Davis, a resident of Dump.

At press time yesterday, the over-flowing rubbish was still uncollected. Residents said that the situation has existed for more than a week.

"There is an excessive pile-up of garbage in this area as business operators are also dumping garbage around here in the garbage receptacle. For probably more than a week now, the garbage bin has not been emptied as the garbage truck has not come. The place is stink and flies are everywhere," Davis observed.

Contacted about the matter, Dr Norman Dunn, member of parliament for St Mary South East, expressed shock.

"I just cannot believe that this is happening at the Dump community. I built that garbage receptacle so that residents can properly dispose of their garbage," said Dunn.

"This is quite shocking to me. My understanding is that commercial operators are also dumping waste in the garbage container, which explains why there is that pile-up of garbage in that area. I have made arrangement with a private truck operator to rid the area of the garbage so that residents can breathe much easier, and the foul odour can be quelled," the MP said.

FED-UP

Dump is located in the shoreline community of Annotto Bay. Residents told THE WEEKEND STAR that they are fed up with the actions of business operators who constantly dispose their waste in the area.

"They don't dispose of their garbage properly, they just drive into the community at nights, or sometimes they hire a vehicle to dump the garbage around here. It just a pile up so, and with COVID-19 going around, plus mosquitoes and dengue [fever], we soon get sick, " fumed Jasmine Hill, a resident of Dump.