At a press briefing held in the Mayor’s Parlour, Emancipation Square, Spanish Town on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, Mayor Norman Scott pointed out that the clean-up exercise took the team to 45 sites for pick up within Spanish Town. He says during the activities over 5000 old tyres were removed from garages and tyre shops with the Spanish Town and environs. He noted that it was a collaborative effort used in the two day exercise.
Mayor Scott thanked the Police, the National Solid Waste Management Agency and the St Catherine Health Department for the assistance rendered. He further expressed much thanks to the Minister of Local Government for his intervention in offsetting this well deserved project.
Meanwhile Chief Public Health Inspector for St Catherine Richard Baker said the tyre removal is significant in the fight against the Zika Virus which is now in 11 Caribbean countries.
Mr. Baker says that old tyres is one of the primary problems and breeding sites for reproduction of the Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.
He affirmed that the site in Hillrun where the tyres were taken is covered and will be constantly monitored in order that the required standards can and will be met. Mr. Baker noted importantly, that the new facility at Hill Run has been approved by the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA).
He said Notices have been served on the garage and tyre shop operators to improve their surroundings, failing which, they will be prosecuted. Those who breach the Public Health Act can be fined a fee of $500,000 for first offence and $1,000,000 plus six months for subsequent offences,"
In the meantime there are plans to have continued public education to ease the problem of mosquito-infestation in the parish.