NATIONAL CLEAN -UP PROGRAMME: A UNITED EFFORT
The highly anticipated National Clean Up Programme was officially launched, by the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie in Darliston, Westmoreland last Friday (December 5).
Although clean-up efforts had begun in different parishes across western Jamaica, the launch of the Clean-up Programme signals the official beginning of a national collaborative effort across government agencies and departments.
While speaking at the launch minister McKenzie spoke to the importance of community involvement for Jamaica to wholistically recover from Melissa’s onslaught. 
“We are not only dealing with the major thoroughfares in which the National Solid Waste Management Authority will continue to work on that programme. But this is a programme that goes deep within the communities, where persons will have an opportunity to put out the couch that you never want to part company with, but you have to. All the things that were damaged and have no use. We’ll be cutting away trees…We have the various equipment here this morning,” he said.
The Minister emphasized the importance of setting political differences aside, especially during this time, stating that the road to restoration for Jamaica is not grounded in politics.
“We as a country must put aside our political differences, because it is Jamaica that matters… the challenge that we face today we still going to have it because it is not going to take us 10 years to do what is necessary to restore Jamaica to the place that we want… Melissa never ask who they voted for…Dr Dayton Campbell is General Secretary of the People’s National party, I am the Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, both of us are working together for one cause” he added.
He also commended first responders on their dedication to their duties in light of hurricane Melissa, highlighting that many of them have not returned home, or have a home to return to, since the passage of the category 5 storm.
“I want this morning to use the opportunity and to ask you all to help us to celebrate and honour and appreciate the work of our first respondents, the fire brigade, the police, the army, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, our nurses, our doctors, those community persons who volunteer who was there in the middle of Melissa.. several of them have lost their homes, they have nowhere to go, they have to be staying at the Infirmary in Savanna-la-mar, same thing for persons in St. Elizabeth, in Falmouth, while they were there taking care of the residents, their homes were destroyed” he stated.
The National Clean up Programme is a part of the Government of Jamaica’s collaborative response to restoring a dignified Jamaica by engaging the deep crevices of communities as well as towns and cities over the next 4-6 weeks across 16 of the hardest hit constituencies in Western Jamaica.
