Caribbean News
JAMAICA: 1.5 Million used tires being removed from Riverton Landfill
Montego Bay, December 2, 2018 – Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says the Government is embarking on a project to remove 
approximately 1.5 million used tires from the Riverton Landfill in St. Andrew.
Mr. Vaz says the project’s details are being finalized by Cabinet, with plans to commence the engagement in the first quarter of the 2019/20 fiscal year, noting that “it will take about 12 to 18 months to totally get rid of all the existing stock of tires”.
He was speaking on Thursday (November 29) at the launch of the Integrated Water, Land and Ecosystems (IWEco) project to restore the hydrological and supporting features of the Negril Great Morass in Westmoreland, at Couples Swept Away.
Mr. Vaz, who has responsibility for Land, Environment and Climate Change, advised that a private company will be contracted to shred the tires, which, in turn, will be used in the production of cement.
This, he notes, will stem the burning of the old tires at the landfill, pointing out that this has, to a large extent, contributed to the poor air quality that has plagued Riverton and its environs.
“One of the reasons persons are illicitly burning the tires… is to take the wires out of it for the scrap-metal industry; this shredder will take the wires out automatically. So we will work with persons in the communities down there [Riverton area] to see how we will distribute the wires, rather than for them to burn and cause the air-quality problems that we have been having,” the Minister added.
Mr. Vaz said the project is being effected in this manner, as “it is absolutely almost prohibitive, in terms of cost, to move the tires by trucking them away to some other location”.
He reiterated that the Government remains committed to safeguarding the environment and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The Integrated Water, Land and Ecosystems (IWEco) project is being executed by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) at a cost of US$13 million, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Government of Jamaica.
The project, which is being supported by several other government agencies, is slated to start in January 2019 and end in 2022.
Release: JIS
Contact: Nickieta Sterling
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon Daryl Vaz, emphasises a point while delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Integrated Water, Land and Ecosystems (IWEco) project to restore the hydrological and supporting features of the Negril Great Morass in Westmoreland, at Couples Swept Away on Thursday (November 29).
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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon Daryl Vaz (second right), converses with (from left) Negril Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Grizzle (left); Western Hanover Member of Parliament, Ian Hayles; and Chief Executive Officer/Government Town Planner, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Peter Knight (fourth left), at the launch of the Integrated Water, Land and Ecosystems (IWEco) project to restore the hydrological and supporting features of the Negril Great Morass in Westmoreland, at Couples Swept Away on Thursday (November 29).
Nickieta Sterling Photos
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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