KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 13 2015 – Smoke continues to blanket sections of the Jamaica capital, Kingston, as fire officials grapple with a massive fire at the Riverton City landfill.
Public relations officer with the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Emilio Ebanks said the fire has been spreading due to strong winds.
“The situation has been challenging, we are doing the best we can…” he said.
This has prompted the National Solid Waste Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to take steps to suspend the permit for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), which operates the disposal site.
NEPA took action due to breaches of the permit in relation to the control of fires at the site.
NSWMA operated the facility for more than 20 years before being issued a permit last year.
The opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) spokesman on local government, Desmond McKenzie, said the fire was as a result of the Government’s failure to implement proper waste management programmes.
What’s really going on? @BrownBerry2013 @CNewsService It feels like it. Businesses and schools closing. Hospitals overflowing. Asthma sufferers in trouble.