72 April 2016 - 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.
