National Solid Waste Management Authority

4 Business View Caribbean The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is an agency of the Ministry of Local Govern- ment and Community Development, responsible for the collection, storage, and disposal of solid waste in Jamaica. It was established in 2002 under the Nation- al Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. Its new In- terim Executive Director is Colonel David Pryce who, in the wake of the latest Riverton fire, was called to duty from the Jamaican Defense Force when the NSWMA’s Board of Directors decided not to renew the contract of its Executive Director, Jennifer Edwards, who had been at the helm for the past eight years. Pryce was drafted for his new position at the NSWMA because of his management skills; he had to learn about garbage on the job. In that regard, he gives cred- it to the 2,500 “dedicated workers and employees of the Authority who have not been frugal in their sharing of information and were quick to teach me the ins and outs of the sector,” he says. “I can’t boast about being a subject matter expert, but I am much further along the scale of knowledge about waste management than I was.” In fact, Pryce has brought himself quickly up to speed and can succinctly lay out the responsibilities of the agency he is charged with leading, and whose loss of public trust he is determined to reverse. “We are responsible to take all steps necessary for the effective management of solid waste in Jamaica and to safeguard public health,” he begins. “We also have (L-R) Mrs. Elaine Tomlinson- Finance Director, Mr. Charles Simpson- Enforcement & Compliance Director, Mrs. Dorothy Prince- Interim Corporate Services Director, Colonel Daniel Pryce- Interim Executive Director, Mrs. Deniesha Darling- Legal Director/ Company Secretary and Mr. Percival Stewart- Operations Director.