The St. James Municipal Corporation is taking the lead role in a major beautification project across the city of Montego Bay leading into the upcoming Christmas season.
In making the disclosure, Montego Bay’s Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis said the Corporation will shortly undertake a major repainting project of its building located at 19A Union Street in the city. This marks the first time in over ten years that the building is being given a face lift.
Mayor Davis said the Corporation’s effort is aimed at encouraging other business operators in the City to come on board and beautify their space, not just for Christmas, but on a regular basis.
“We at the St. James Municipal Corporation will be leading by example because the Corporation’s building will be repainted for this Christmas…In my opinion the building is in a deplorable condition and if we are to ask the business operators to give their premises a facelift then we have to lead by example. In a matter of weeks a new paint job will start on the building. We believe in keeping a clean city and beautiful”, Mayor Davis said.
St. James Municipal Corporation building.
He said for too long the buildings across Montego Bay have been allowed to lose their appeal and sometimes all that is required is a new coat of paint.
Mayor Davis pointed out that in addition to repainting the buildings, he is also encouraging business operators to ensure that they implement proper garbage storage and collection policies in an effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate the on-going challenge of rodent infestation.
He said the improper storage and disposal of garbage continue to be a challenge to the National Solid Waste Management Authority, NSWMA and this has contributed to the rat infestation.
Mayor Davis said “the NSWMA continues to work hard in collecting and disposing of both domestic and commercial garbage in our city. The challenge is that there are instances where garbage is not containerized which provides a feeding ground for rats and other insects. This further leads to an increase in the rat population and the health challenge posed by rats are well documented. We need our citizens to take responsibility for their waste until it is collected by the NSWMA”.