Garbage pledge: PM vows action on collection woes

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has acknowledged ongoing difficulties with garbage collection across Barbados, partially attributing the problem to delays in the delivery of new sanitation trucks amid global supply chain disruptions.

Speaking at a Parish Speaks town hall meeting in St Andrew, Mottley addressed mounting complaints from residents about irregular collection schedules, which have led to rubbish piling up in neighbourhoods and creating unsanitary conditions.

“We’ve been having problems,” Mottley said frankly. “I spoke to the [Sanitation Service Authority] chairman up to today [Wednesday], and the reality is that even the trucks that we had already ordered and paid for, there’s a delay in delivery.”

The prime minister explained that these setbacks are part of broader global disruptions affecting supply chains and logistics. “That’s why you keep hearing me talk about supply chains, logistics, and the disruption globally. These things find a way of presenting themselves in ways that are inconvenient to us,” she said.

The Sanitation Service Authority (SSA), the state agency responsible for garbage collection, has been grappling with limited resources, including a lack of trucks and personnel. The situation has been exacerbated by an ageing fleet prone to breakdowns.

Despite these challenges, Mottley sought to reassure the public of the government’s commitment to resolving the issue.

“I give you the assurance that, in addition to the ones already procured, the government will ensure that the SSA can procure additional trucks. And that’s what we’re working to do now,” she said.

The prime minister highlighted the complexities involved in the procurement process, particularly with older Mitsubishi trucks, where parts are manufactured on different continents. She stressed the need for pragmatism in addressing the urgent situation: “I said to them, Look, in an ideal world, we might want to get electric trucks. But in this case, no, we need trucks. And buy what you can.”

While acknowledging that challenges remain, Mottley expressed cautious optimism about recent improvements. “It is going to be still a little rough. But between what they have, the numbers on the road are better than they were two weeks ago.”

The SSA last received a fleet of 10 new garbage trucks in December 2021.