Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

One of the many streets in Vineyard Town, east Kingston, that are littered with uncollected debris left by the passage of Hurricane Dean, which impacted the country more than three weeks ago. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

An infestation of rats and other pests has apparently occurred in sections of the Corporate Area, as a result of uncollected garbage left by the passage of Hurricane Dean that impacted the island more than three weeks ago, residents say.

Yesterday, when The Gleaner toured sections of east Kingston, residents complained tha rats, flies and mosquitoes existed within their communities, piles of uncollected garbage left over from Hurricane Dean have created breeding grounds for the pests in the neighbourhood.

They say the pests have also started to enter their homes.

On Second Avenue in Vineyard Town, a Mr. Gillings was spotted burning piles of broken tree branches at his gate.

"I can't wait on these guys because mi no know when dem a come. You want to see the amount a rats weh run out when it start to burn," Mr. Gillings said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, during his swearing-in speech, said that a day would be designated for the country to concentrate on Hurricane Dean restoration and clean-up efforts.

Yet, reports from Metropolitan Parks and Markets, one of the four regional entities of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, state that by October, debris left by Hurricane Dean should be totally cleared from the streets.

Observed collecting garbage

Trucks and front-end loaders were also yesterday observed collecting garbage and Hurricane Dean refuse in areas such as Central Kingston and in the vicinity of Cross Roads.

"Mi have to go get a vehicle and throw them (the garbage) inna it and go a Riverton City [landfill] go dump them we self," one man from Vineyard Town said.

The debris left by Hurricane Dean was also uncollected in parts of the city, such as Havendale, Kencot, the Charlton area and Constant Spring Grove.

One man of Havendale said: "We still have regular weekly garbage collection but the trash still remains. We are just waiting and hoping that the trash from 'Dean' will be collected."

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com