If this Government really cares...

Friday, February 17, 2012

OUR experience over the years with environment advocate Ms Diana McCaulay is that whenever she speaks, she does so from an informed position.

Therefore, she caught our attention with her revelation this week that in January 2007 the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) cancelled the bulk of a US$11.5-million loan intended to improve conditions at the Riverton City dump and other dump sites around the country, and to develop an action plan for a modern solid waste management programme for Jamaica.

That loan, Ms McCaulay informed us, was signed in September 1999, but the agreement was closed after it became clear to the IDB that the implementation of the project was "very unsatisfactory" and failed to meet its "development objective".

The broad objectives of the project, we have learnt, were to upgrade the Riverton landfill, establish a proper legal and institutional regulatory system for solid waste, and prepare an islandwide programme for waste minimisation, collection and disposal.

In addition, the Riverton landfill was to benefit from an environmental impact assessment and monitoring programme, lighting, road and bridge improvement.

Under the project, as well, equipment was to have been acquired and maintained, and recommendations were to have been made for the location of regional landfills and transfer stations.

But, as Ms McCaulay pointed out in her article published on Wednesday in the Daily Observer, the IDB's 2007 completion report contained the most appalling account of mismanagement, waste and incompetence.

The IDB also pointed to insufficient budgetary allocation by the Government of Jamaica as among the failures of the project.

Since then, we have experienced a few episodes of fires at the Riverton City dump, with the current case being arguably the worse.

The smoke has made people sick, caused some schools to close early one day last week, and has affected the air quality over large sections of the capital city and St Catherine, which have a combined population of more than one million people.

Efforts to extinguish the fire have already cost taxpayers $23 million, and, we are told, another $20 million could be added to the bill by the time the flames are finally doused.

The cost to the country, however, will be significantly more, as we deal with the health-related issues caused by the smoke pollution and the heavy price to properly cover the dump in order to prevent a recurrence.

The sad irony is that Jamaicans could have been spared all this had the Government allocated $32 million to cover the landfill last year.

We acknowledge that in a tight economy and with demands for attention to vital issues such as health care, education, security, and the provision of water, a government would be hard-pressed to allocate funds to the maintenance of the dump.

However, the administration, we believe, should have been guided by previous experience of the damaging effects to the country of fires at Riverton. The Government's concern should not have been how expensive it was to cover and maintain the dump, but how costly it would be not to.

We cannot accept the argument that the funds to do what was necessary could not have been found, for we have seen too often where the Government is able to come up with money to stage events that give the country no more value than a feel-good factor.

If the Government has any care for the people of this country it needs to get this problem fixed... and quickly.

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (6)

3/14/2012

if a dump can be considered nnspiriig, this one certainly is! I share your enthusiasm for the environment and it truly makes me happy when I see a company or organization go above and beyond the norm.

wanda woeman
2/19/2012

@LQ, instead of diverting from the argument and taking your usual jabs and swipes at the PNP and its leader why don’t you address the claim made by D.M. that in 2007 the IDB cancelled the bulk of a US$11.5-million loan intended to improve conditions at the R.C.D and others, and to develop an action plan for a modern solid waste management programme for JA after it became clear to them that the implementation of the project was "very unsatisfactory" and failed to meet its "development objective".
Why worry that the call-in programme to JA house was cancelled as well as the PM’s question time in the House? Where is B.G. (who used to do those things, and had the gift of gab) today?

Nad Musch
2/17/2012

Thank you Observer Editor. We need to put the environment - landfill, recycling and nationwide participation in focus. Luv Quest may be correct, the Riverton events should be seen as a national emergency call to address our waste and disposal practices. I still think we need to consider recyclebank.

Noel Richards
2/17/2012

I second the sentiments in the editorial. I will also add that real change will only come from a more enlightened cadre of people running the Government, something that should include Diana McCaulay, not that she has any interest in being a part of any Government. J'cans require totally new leadership on the Environment, National Security and the Economy, the current paradigm is much less than inadequate.

Luv Quest
2/17/2012

Editor.....This is a National emergency however we can’t hear anything from the PM. The people are one incident away from pressing the “panic button.” The PM refused to engage the people so much that she ends the radio talk show, 'Jamaica House Live', and the prime minister's Question Time in the House of Representatives. We understand that she doesn’t have the “gift of gab” but whatever gifts she has we would like to know about it. The smoke will not hide the reality for long. Where art thou?

Paul Gentles
2/17/2012

Your cartoon is a bit passe, isn't it? It looks like a belated jab at DW! ha,haa. You just burst my bubble...I thought he was one of your favourites.

Do/Would you disclose details of your salary with your spouse?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

Water woes to affect sections of St Catherine and the Corporate Area

If this Government really cares...