Minister Liburd in her remarks:

·         Encouraged the entire SWMC staff assembled not to be wary in well doing and challenged the workers—management and staff alike—not to limit their “sensitizing of the public” to the current radio programmes (Talking Trash/Waste Matters)but requested every worker to “carry the fight in the alley ways, shops, communities; and not to leave this particular function to just the management.

·         Thanked the SWM staff for its diligent and dedicated service and pointed out the critical importance of a clean country to the attainment and maintenance of good health in the first instance and to economic stability—given the prominence of tourism in the local economy. She was at pains to indicate that tourist ships/agents rigourously and continuously require the passengers to complete questionnaires which speak to the “cleanliness and safety and security of destinations. This is a factor, she said, which “features prominently in the determination of whether or not a particular destination remains on the port of call /schedule”.

·         Commended the SWMC for launching its Social and Sports Club, noting how “important social clubs are for human support and fostering health and wellness (including recreation, relaxation etc)”.

·         Highlighted a  concern which comes to mind given the recent heavy rains and the upcoming hurricane season and related it to the tendency for householders living up stream to dump unwanted material in the ghauts and rivers. She encouraged the SWMC not to give up, but rather to intensify its dialogue with residents to discourage and eliminate this practice. According to Minister Liburd, “the SWMC is one of the better managed agencies in the country and hence there is no reason for residents to be throwing garbage in the ghauts”

·         Referred to the benefits that obtain in the SWMC and asked workers not to take them for granted

·         Took the time to focus in some detail on the Pension Act recently passed in Parliament and addressed its impact and relevance to employees of SWMC

A question and answer session followed and The Honourable Minister Liburd posed for photographs with the Management and Staff.