New board coming for waste agency

THE NATIONAL Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is to get a new board shortly following the resignation yesterday of the board chaired by Dennis Morgan.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott announced yesterday that he had received the resignation of the board.

At the same time, Rupert Pryce has been appointed interim executive director of the agency.

He has taken over from acting executive director of the NSWMA, Allan Douglas.

Pryce is a former director of the Parochial Revenue Fund, which is the main source of revenue for the local authorities.

Arscott told journalists during a press conference at his offices on Hagley Park Road in St Andrew yesterday that he would be making a Cabinet submission on Monday for the appointment of a new board.

While fielding questions from the media, Arscott said his ministry would be pushing to get local government enshrined in the Constitution by the end of this year.

On another matter, Arscott said his ministry would begin a pilot project to separate garbage into organic matter, paper, plastic and metal.

"If we can encourage our population to begin composting as a routine matter, then we can begin to reduce the volume of garbage that we have to transport."

Arscott said he would be holding talks with investors to look at the viability of converting solid waste to energy.

"I intend to meet very shortly with (Energy) Minister Phillip Paulwell to see how we can convert waste into valuable assets on behalf of the Jamaican people," he said.

Solar lights

Plans are also being pursued to replace the current street lights with solar lights in an effort to reduce the impact of recurrent expenditure for street lights on the Budget.

Arscott said the ministry would be exploring the possibility of manufacturing the solar lights in Jamaica.

At present, the Ministry of Local Government owes the Jamaica Public Service more than a $1 billion for street lights.

In addition, Arscott is proposing the payment of property taxes on a monthly basis. "Instead of having once a year people gathering at the collectorate in these long lines, we would make it easier on the taxpayer and also facilitate the cash flow."