Councillor Crawford wants WPM to get tough on illegal dumping in West Green

WESTERN BUREAU:

Councillor Dwight Crawford, who represents the Spring Garden Division in the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), has called on the Western Parks and Market (WPM) Waste Management Limited to prosecute persons who illegally dump waste in sections of West Green community.

Crawford’s appeal follows that from a concerned resident who reported to The Gleaner that a section of the community has been converted into an informal dumpsite, resulting in an unbearable stench and an invasion of rodents.

The resident expressed concern about possible health implications and the failure of the authorities to address the matter.

“This isn’t just an eyesore; it’s a critical threat to our community’s well-being. Residents are forced to live amidst discarded refrigerators, microwaves, and even car parts,” he said. “These dumped items are not only a blight but also dangerous breeding grounds .... they collect stagnant water, creating ideal conditions for mosquito proliferation.”

“Disturbingly, we’ve already had at least one confirmed case of dengue fever in our community, directly linked to this hazardous environment,” he said.

The resident said the concerns were shared with both Crawford and their member of parliament, Marlene Malahoo Forte, but “despite promises of a cleanup effort stretching back months, no action has been taken”.

But Crawford told The Gleaner that a team from WPM has visited the area and has since been instructed to carry out additional work.

CONTENTS OF DUMP

“I brought it to the attention of the NSWMA and they sent a team that started doing some work there, but it appears as though the contents of the illegal dump site is coming from some construction debris and some home appliances. I can’t confirm which home [they] are from but it would appear as though they are some household materials,” he said.

Crawford surmised that residents began dumping in the area after noticing other waste materials piling up, and has called on them to halt that practice immediately.

“Naturally, you know, once that starts (dumping of garbage), more people started to throw things there. But I have brought it to the attention of the NSWMA and they sent a team that went and did some work there but it appears as though it persists, so I’ve raised it to them again. They said they’ll be sending a team back there to have it sorted out once more,” said Crawford.

Crawford has stressed to residents the importance of keeping the community clean of waste material and debris.

“More importantly, what I’d like to say is that, you know, the space that we live in is our space. It’s our home and it is our responsibility, all of us. Our responsibility is to protect it. I think persons tend to feel that when they act irresponsibly it only affects some but, it has a way of affecting us also,” said Crawford.

“We must all play our part to try to protect the space that we live in because it is our world. And while I know that you may go there in the dark of night and do it and no one will see, when it breeds mosquitoes and it breeds rats and it breeds other things that cause problems, it has a way of sometimes finding us right back at our doorsteps,” noted Crawford. “So, I am imploring NSWMA to do some investigations to find who the perpetrators are, not just clean up the site, but identify who the perpetrators are and bring the law to bear on them,” he added.