St. John's Rural West parliamentary candidate Richard S. Lewis has led a community clean-up operation targeting illegal dump sites in his constituency, according to Antigua News Room, renewing calls for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to introduce scheduled bulk waste collection.
The operation cleared accumulated bulk waste from several sites, removing items including broken furniture, construction debris, and old appliances. Community members joined Lewis in the effort to restore the affected areas.
"The work continues in and out of season," Lewis said, acknowledging the ongoing nature of the challenge.
Following the clean-up, "No Dumping" signs were erected at the cleared locations to discourage residents from resuming indiscriminate disposal at the sites.
Lewis used the occasion to press the NSWMA for a more structured response to the bulk waste problem. "We must admit that bulk waste disposal is a major issue in our community and real solutions are needed," he said, arguing that a scheduled collection programme would help curb illegal dumping across the constituency.
He also raised public health concerns, warning that the addition of household garbage to these sites is compounding existing problems and contributing to rat infestations.
Lewis said sustained efforts will be required to deliver an effective and lasting solution to what he described as a persistent community issue.
