IT WAS A TALE OF two different garbage complaints in separate parts of the island amidst Christmas celebrations yesterday.
Some residents in St Peter blamed their own for contributing to the excess pile-ups along the streets, while others in St George complained about the tardiness of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) in collecting refuse.
In Diamond Corner and Maynards, St Peter, residents told the DAILY NATION that in spite of efforts by SSA workers to keep the streets clean for the holidays, some householders were undermining the service.
Their comments came in light of a recent assurance by SSA officials that they had conducted a nation-wide garbage clean-up for Christmas.
“The garbage truck passes twice a week, so garbage doesn’t really pile up like this,” said Mera Goodridge, of Diamond Corner.
“But you know this is Christmas now and when the garbage truck done pass, last-minute Bajans look to do their cleaning.”
Another villager, who did not want to be identified, said garbage was collected on Tuesday and Thursday last week. She said she could not understand why people would waited for the truck to pass and then dispose of their waste.
Clovis Watts, of Maynards, said garbage trucks passed twice a week in her community. She added she was confident that within the next few days the pile-up would vanish.
“It doesn’t make any sense complaining because we don’t have garbage issues out here. Whatever you see is garbage that people from other places dump there.
“I have been living out here for the past 20 years and I could guarantee you that Wednesday would come and the garbage would not be there anymore,” said Watts.
However, in Groves Tenantry, St George, residents complained that their garbage had not been collected for the last two weeks.
Householder Sue Reid said it was a disgrace for the area to look and smell dirty, and she was concerned about the vermin the trash would attract.
Another resident, who declined to be indentified, said this was the longest period in which a truck did not pass. (SB)