Nevis receives new garbage truck from their Social Security Board

Nevis' Ministry of Health was the recipient of a brand new garbage truck, which was funded by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.

The keys to the US$142,000 (EC$384,000) Mack truck, were handed over to Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration Hon. Hensley Daniel by Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Mrs. Sephlin Lawrence. The important ceremony was held at their Low Ground Landfill late July.

Mr. Daniel said it was no surprise that Social Security engaged the Ministry of Health since its contributions came from workers

“The Ministry of Health has an interest and a responsibility to ensure that workers are healthy so that when workers are healthy they will work and by working they will contribute to Social Security so this is in a way an investment in the workers of the country to ensure that they remain healthy because we want to make sure that garbage is properly disposed off and in addition to that they have an interest in the aesthetic beauty of the country.

“If the country is beautiful the visitors [will] come. The people who work in tourism they will get more work and they will contribute to Social Security. So I want to thank them for being in that philosophical mindset. This is not something that is Social Security over here and health over there but Social Security and Health are intertwined,” he said.

The Minister also made the point that in Third World countries contributions of that nature were often referred to as gifts but they were not because they were derived from workers contributions therefore they should be maintained and should be treated as though they were personal.

Mr. Daniel explained that the Nevis Island Administration through the Ministry of Health did not approach an overseas friendly country for funds to purchase the truck but instead sought to forge a long and fruitful partnership with the Social Security Board.

“What we have done is to seek to build a partnership with Social Security to see if we can do things locally and I am particularly happy that in 1978 when Social Security started I was just about beginning to work with the public service and there was so much opposition to Social Security because nobody wanted their contribution to come out.

“I think more than anything, the institution [Social Security] has demonstrated its commitment to the public. We can look around and see investments in housing, we see investment in education through scholarships and now of course as the Minister of Health, I have to make sure they tip the balance to health as well and so we look forward to a long and productive relationship with Social Security,” he said.

Chairman of the Social Security Board Mr. Halva Hendrickson said the funding came from part of the institution’s annual contribution which was made to both Nevis and St. Kitts in the health services and it was their way of giving back to the people.

Mr. Hendrickson also noted that St. Kitts had faced a similar problem where the garbage trucks had gone bad and private persons had been hired to collect garbage. Nonetheless, he said Nevis was ahead in their request for a new garbage truck.

“In fact in St. Kitts we have a similar problem where our garbage trucks have gone bad and they had to hire some private people but they have not come to us yet but it looks as though Nevis is more on the ball because Nevis is now here [ahead] and they have their garbage truck.

“I suppose what will happen in the end, is that somebody might have to come and say just as Nevis has cleared the way St. Kitts will have to clear the way and follow. So we are very happy to be here and we expect that this truck will be used for the benefit of the people of Nevis,” he said.

Meantime, while she thanked Mr. Daniel and the Social Security board for the new garbage truck, Ms. Carlyn Lawrence Director of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority explained that unlike the previous garbage trucks, the new one had had a greater capacity to meet the needs of a growing island.

“Waste management is a new thing for us on these small islands. It’s a progression into keeping up with the latest technology and the latest equipment available and so we are very happy to have the truck and we want to say thank you and give you our assurance that we will do everything that we can to take good care of it and keep it going for as many years as we can keep it going for.

“We got this truck because we needed the size, the island is growing and there is expansion everyday. [The truck] has the capacity of containing 25 yards of waste [because of its] compaction. So it can clean an entire parish without having to make a second trip. We are going to ensure that responsible people drive it and that we take good care of what has been offered to us,” she said.

The ceremony was chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority Mrs. Joslyn Liburd, Deputy Chairman of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board His Excellency Mr. Steve Rensford, Assistant directors (Nevis) Mr. Elvin Bailey and Mr. Vernel Powell and Members of the Nevis Solid Waste Management Authority Board Ms. Hope Merchant and Mr. Ron Daniel.

Proper methods to dispose of fish and chicken offal

The Sanitation Service Authority is concerned with how fish and chicken processors are disposing of their waste.

All offal from chicken and fish processors must not be sent to the Mangrove Pond Landfill – the right way is to send it fresh (same day) to the Rendering Plant in Balls Plantation, Christ Church. They operate between 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.

Barbadians are reminded that chicken feathers and chicken intestines must be sent together to the Plant once it is fresh from the same day, this also applies to fresh fish offal – but with the fish offal, it must be chopped into fine pieces.

Please note, the heads of billfish, albacore and turpits are not allowed at the Rendering Plant (they can only be sent to the Mangrove Pond Landfill if they are fresh from the same day). Only fish or chicken, no other meat carrion should be sent to the Christ Church complex for rendering.

The waste that is not accepted by the Rendering Plant will only be accepted by Mangrove if it is fresh from the same day, please call 419-7501 or -7502 to make arrangements.

If there are any queries concerning the Rendering Plant, please call 418-8053 or send a fax to 420-5797 ahead of time.

Sanitation and the Rendering Plant appreciate all immediate cooperation with this important matter.

Consideration when parking needed in Bourne’s Village & Grassfield

The Sanitation Service Authority is reminding all motorists to please park your vehicles so as to allow for the easy passage of all SSA trucks in your neighbourhood – day or night.

In particular, concerns have been recently expressed in both Bourne’s Village, St George and Grassfield, St Philip – people who have large vehicles are especially urged to park bearing their neighbours in mind. Make it easier for SSA compactors to remove waste from all households.

The SSA thanks the public for their active support and co-operation, and let’s all work together to keep Barbados clean!

Refuse arrangements in the City during Throne Speech of Parliament

The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) is asking all businesses in and around Parliament to not put out their refuse between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

The SSA appreciates all cooperation given and urges everyone to keep Barbados clean.

New Hours for Collection Route - Southern Depot

The SSA is alerting all residents in certain southern districts to new measures Sanitation is employing to not just help keep Barbados clean but avoid traffic congestion – as the Authority reminds everyone to be environmentally responsible and to keep all of their surroundings clean.

Should there be any questions; call the Southern Depot at 430-5018 or 430-5024. Please note the following details.

SSA trucks will be collecting refuse from the following households from 2:30 am; Mondays & Thursdays will cover – Lynches, Bottom Bay, Bottom Bay Development, Bayleys Primary School, Bayleys Development, Apple Hall Terrace, Peat Bay, Marley Vale, on to Merricks Road then Merricks Main Rd, Coles Rd, Coles Close, Coles Crescent, Coles Terrace, over to Marshall Trading, Marley Vale Development, then over to Content Cot, Sealy Hill, Lyders Hill, Industry Hall, St Catherine’s Primary School, St Catherine’s New Rd, and over to Ragged Point Lighthouse.

On Tuesdays and Fridays the following areas will be covered – Youth With A Mission, Thickett’s Tenantry, Thickett’s Garden, Three Houses Yard, Bayfield Main Rd, Bayfield Tenantry, Fortescue Development, Wiltshire Rd, Hillview Rd, East Point Rd, Skeete’s Bay Fish Mkt, Culpepper Development, Three Houses Hill, College Savannah 1 & 2, Baptist Cottage, over to St Mark’s Primary, Fortescue Hill, St Marks, St Marks Development and Blades Hill 1, 2 & 3.

On Wednesdays, the route runs from Pot House, Martin’s Bay, Foster Hall, Church View, Coach Hill, Bath Beach, Sergeant Street, then over to Palmer’s Main, Brawley’s Main, St Margaret’s School, Newcastle Park, Clifton Hall Terrace, Welch Village, College Land, Sealy Hall, over by Zones Tenantry, Newcastle, Haynes Hill, Bath Land, Codrington College and Palmer’s Land.

Therefore we’re asking people to put out their refuse from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on the night before their collection

Please park appropriately to allow SSA trucks to easily collect waste – especially along narrow pathways, try meeting with fellow residents and agree to park on one side of the road, and tell both the SSA and Police!

If there are any queries, please call the Southern Depot at 430-5018 or 430-5024. The SSA is doing its part to ease traffic concerns and ensuring Barbados is kept clean and urge Barbadians to be environmentally responsible at all times.