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WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents of Hopewell, Hanover, are now crying for help to rid the town of a growing pile of metal waste, which is ballooning in the ‘River Gully’ area.
They say that in addition to being an eyesore, there are also health concerns as the waste harbours rodents and facilitates mosquito breeding.
“If this heap stays here for much longer, I am sure that there is going to be an outbreak of some type of disease, whether caused by the rats or contracted from the mosquitoes,” one resident told The Gleaner over the weekend.
The metal heap seems to be an illegal dumping ground for such material, which is taking place next to a recently constructed concrete dumpster for household waste.
When contacted, Hopewell Councillor Lennox Fray told The Gleaner that he mentioned the growing amount of metal waste in the area at a recent Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) meeting, and asked the National Solid Waste representatives present to assist in clearing the site.
“Apart from being unsightly, it is unhealthy, as it is now a breeding ground for all sorts of insects and rodents, and the old fridges and stoves are now being thrown in the gully, which is a natural drain for the area whenever there is rain,” he pointed out.
He argued that if there should be a bout of heavy rain before the metal pile is removed, it is likely that some of the old equipment will be washed down the gully towards the bridge, which goes across the Hopewell main road, where they could cause a blockage and subsequent flooding.
“I was told that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Western Parks and Market (WPM) is having problems with trucks. I was told that there are supposed to be two trucks [capable of removing metal waste] serving eastern Hanover, and at present, they (WPM) only have one,” Fray said.
“I was not given any time frame within which they plan to come and remove it. I reached out to them as late as yesterday (Sunday), through messaging, but I was unable to get any response,” the councillor added.
“I also suggested to them at the HMC meeting, that some ‘No dumping’ signs be posted in that area, because at the end of the day, there should not be dumping of metallic waste with household waste in the same place,” he argued.
Efforts by The Gleaner to contact the NSWMA Public Cleansing Inspector for Hanover Eastern, Correta Barrett, at the cellular phone number she gave out at the HMC meeting proved futile. The number repeatedly rang without an answer.
