PM Impressed with NSWMA Team Spirit and Work Pride

Kingston, June 8, 2009

PM GOLDING IMPRESSED WITH NSWMA

TEAM SPIRIT AND WORK PRIDE

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has expressed satisfaction with the work of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). He described it as "hugely successful" and congratulated the management and staff during the event Recognizing Excellence where staff was honoured on Friday (June 5) at a special function at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston.

Mr. Golding said, "I am impressed by the extent to which people take pride in this work that they do; the extent to which they are inspired and are enthusiastic about it; the extent to which they have been able to build such a team spirit. It is quite obvious that much of that credit is due to Joan Gordon-Webley. She fears nothing, she will face any task and any challenge. She has built a team that has transformed the NSWMA into a family; and that is why it has been so hugely successful."

The Prime Minister added, " We are pleased at the way in which this organisation has performed and the way in which it has used the limited resources that we have been able to make available to it. I want to commend you for the ingenuity and the creativity you are showing in terms of what we can do with this garbage that is collected."   

The Executive Director of the NSWMA, Joan Gordon-Webley, highlighted the agency's improvement in dealing with fires at the main dumping site; as well as its ability to earn additional revenue from roadside maintenance contracts and household garden services.

She reported that the Authority had found enterprises beyond the core function of collecting domestic waste on behalf of Parish Councils.

The agency currently has contracts with the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Urban Development Coorporation (UDC), the National Water Commission (NWC) and private sector companies. "There had to be a transformation from trash to cash; that's the bottom line," she said.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for the Department of Local Government, Robert Montague told the gathering of workers from across Jamaica, "We are here to change attitudes and behaviour and we are here to change the ‘uglification' of Jamaica into the beautification of Jamaica."

The ‘Best Sanitation' team incentive award for the last quarter went to a crew of Southern Parks and Markets (SPM). The driver for the team received a cheque for $100,000 and each sideman received $33,000. Each member of the winning team also received a pair of safety boots from Leder Mode and a gift basket from Trade Winds, makers of Tru Juice. ‘Best Kept Landfill' went to Riverton which was also the most improved landfill.