Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby is calling on the National Water Commission (NWC) to urgently meet with the municipal corporation and provide full details on its long-promised sewage master plan. Amid persistent raw sewage issues affecting key areas like Half-Way Tree and downtown Kingston, Swaby stressed the need for transparency and a clear timeline for upgrading the city’s outdated infrastructure. He warned that the worsening conditions demand immediate and coordinated action.

Sewage city

Mayor calls for meeting with NWC as Kingston communities suffocate from foul stench

Jamaica Gleaner/24 May 2025/Tanesha Mundle/staff Reporter 

AMID A persistent sewage problem engulfing some of Kingston’s busiest town centres in the foul stench of raw waste, the mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, is urging the National Water Commission (NWC) to meet with the municipal corporation and provide a detailed update on its long-touted sewage master plan.

The sickening and overwhelming odour blankets key areas such as Half-way Tree, downtown Kingston, and Cross Roads, making it impossible for residents and visitors to ignore the growing issue.

When asked about measures to address the situation, Swaby said a “Cleaner City” committee has been established to raise awareness and work closely with relevant agencies such as the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the NWC.

“We have been having some sewage issues right across the city, and I will tell you, there is not a week that I have not called the NWC myself and reported a problem,” Swaby said.

“The last two I reported were at Harbour Street and Deanery Road,” he added.

According to the mayor, he has invited the NWC to meet with the corporation and provide details on its master plan.

“There is no doubt the system is archaic, but we want to know the time frame for a complete overhaul. I know they’ve done some work in the Spanish Town area [in St Catherine] and are currently on Princess Street, but they haven’t come to the table yet – and we are encouraging them to do so,” he said.

Swaby revealed that while Government ministers have spoken publicly about a comprehensive sewage infrastructure plan, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has yet to receive official details or a timeline from the NWC.

CLEAN-UP EFFORTS

In the meantime, he noted that the municipality has been conducting clean-up efforts twice daily in downtown Kingston – particularly around Parade, King Street, and Harbour Street. However, resource constraints currently prevent the municipality from carrying out similar activities in Cross Roads and Half-way Tree.

The mayor also appealed to citizens to play their part.

“While we’re pressing agencies like the NWC and the NSWMA, residents must also take responsibility for how they dispose of their waste. Throwing garbage anywhere is not acceptable,” he emphasised.

The mayor’s comments came during a day of community clean-up, painting, and beautification at the Rae Town Fishing Village and Community Centre, the KSAMC’S Labour Day project.

The Labour Day initiative at Rae Town saw a handful of residents – assisted by sponsors, municipal workers, and volunteers – clearing mounds of garbage, removing derelict vehicles, painting the community centre, and collecting trash along the shoreline of the fishing village.

Swaby said the decision to focus on Rae Town was in alignment with this year’s Labour Day theme of environmental protection, after discussions with Councillor Rosalie Hamilton and local fisherfolk.

The goal, he said, is to renovate the community centre and its grounds for the benefit of the residents.

The project also received international support from Dr Sherill Morris-francis, an assistant professor at Prairie View A&M University in Houston, Texas, who brought a group of students, who are participating in a study abroad programme, to assist. She emphasised that community service was a critical part of the programme.

One of the students, Kamari King, said, “It feels good to give back to the community and clean up the coastal area. It’s nice to keep your environment clean and create a clean space for everybody from the community to enjoy.”

LENDING SUPPORT

Also lending their support were contestants from the Kingston and St Andrew Festival Queen competition, led by Paulette Sutherland, parish manager for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Kingston and St Andrew Office.

Sutherland also noted that community involvement is a core element of the competition and praised the initiative as an excellent opportunity for the contestants to engage in meaningful civic activities and support the mayor, who serves as the competition’s patron.

Contestant Brithney Clarke shared, “It’s been a wonderful experience. I participate in Labour Day activities every year. This year, we started at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, where we did some painting and tree planting, and now we’re at the Rae Town Community Centre. Some of us are painting inside, while others are cleaning up the beach. It’s a great experience, and I’m happy to see community members getting involved.”

Rae Town resident Mellisa Mcdonald-godfrey, who was seen painting alongside other local women, expressed her appreciation for the initiative.

“I’m part of the community and my kids benefit. I walk them in the evenings, and I often come here to look at the beach – sometimes it’s very dirty. So, I felt it was necessary to volunteer,” she said.

Steve Mcgregor, People’s National Party deputy spokesperson on citizen rights and prospective candidate for Central Kingston, welcomed the project, stating that it aligns with his broader plans for the constituency.

“I’ve partnered with several major developers – one of them a prominent musical icon – who want to help us revitalise the area, bringing back its cultural, musical, and entertainment heritage,” he said.

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