This blog is created to encourage first year students at Church Teachers' College to write their thoughts on environmental issues in Jamaica
This blog is created to encourage first year students at Church Teachers' College to write their thoughts on environmental issues in Jamaica
The Jamaican government has to ensure that the drains are cleaned even before the hurricane season draws near while the citizens of Jamaica need to be more cognizant of the fact that we are primarily responsible for the garbage that so often blocks our drainage system.
ReplyDeleteThe garbage build-up in our drains are most times removed when it gets closer to the hurricane season, however this is not enough. The Jamaican government appears to only pay attention to things when they seem to be at a very critical stage and they (the government) can get immediate recognition. This ought not to be so. If they make a more concerted effort to have the drains be cleaned as often as is economically possible then there will be a reduction in the number of homes that are usually flooded during the hurricane season.
The citizens of this country also play an integral role in the cleaning of drains. The garbage does not find their way in the drains all on their own, someone is responsible for it. When I look at the drains in and around my community, I am appalled at how irresponsible we are with our rubbish. If everyone drops the garbage that they carry around into the bin instead of on the ground, then the drains would not have to be cleaned as often except for if leaves or other ‘green’ material have fallen into it. It all boils down to being good ‘stewards’ of the environment. We are the ones who throw snack wrappers and packages through the windows of vehicles and then we demonstrate that the drains are not being cleaned. This mentality has to change and we must take these issues into our hands as ‘stewards’ of this earth.
The onus of ensuring that we have clean drains is on both the government and the citizens of this country of Jamaica. If we all do what we must then the results will indeed be favorable.
I am,
Sherry-Ann Pryce
Church Teachers’ College
Year 1
Great Sherry-Ann. See we were able to delete the comment. I agree with you. You have been balanced in your assessment of the situation. Have you ever suffered losses due to hurricane/tropical storm damage? If not, do you know about others who did?
ReplyDeleteThe government and citizens of any country have to work hand in hand in order for that country to develop in any area.It is the responsibility of both the government and citizen of jamaica to ensure the drain are kept cleans.
ReplyDeleteThe governmentof Jamaica is in charge of th e constitution of the country, it is their responsibility to ensure programs are put in place to ensure the drains are kept clean. Organization such as the National Solid Waste Management Agency(NSWMA) has being doing a good job to ensure solid waste are properly manage. Inspite of these organisations, there are communities that are still vunerable to disaster if hurricane should strike.This occurs because some communities are often neglected,sometimes because of political reasons or because of their locations.I implore the government to make an effort to ensure the drains in all community are clean as frequent as possible and that more stringent rules are put place to avoid delinquent persons from littering.
Citizen action affects whatever take place in a country.They play an integral role in the maintaining of drains.Citizen within a community can form groups to ensure drains are kept clean at all times, with or without the help of the government. Citizen must be responsible for their actions, and must understand the consequences of illegal dumping. I have seen in many communities where it has become an habit for some citizens to dump garbage and other debris in gullies and other draining system. Is it because these persons are uneducated? No I would not think so, because I have seen on many occasions where citizen that are said to be educated, throw items from their vehicle While driving on the road.We need to stop and think about the dangers we are ceating on the environment and to ourselves.
The government and citizens of Jamaica just need to understand their roles and be willing to work assidulously to create a safe and healthy Jamaica.
Kelvin Bessentie
Church Teacher College
Year 1
Yes Kelvin,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear from you and your opinion on this topic is highly valued. Your position is clear. Both citizens and the government should share equal responsibility. Can you relate some of your personal feelings when you saw the destruction brought about by this natural disaster?
I strongly belive that the government pays two little attention to some parts of the country. The drains in our country should all be cleaned. Not leave some and do the others. this I have seen especially in the country where I come from. the drains are very bushy and are hardly cleaned. The government alone however cannot clean the drains. they have to work togehter to get them cleaned so that places around the island are not flooded out. after all, "two heads are better than one".
ReplyDeleteI believe the government and citizens of any country must work hand in hand to alleviate any problem they face as a country. The government more so the citizens play an important role in drain cleaning. I have seen numerous newscast of citizens protesting that the government are not cleaning the drains and every time it rains heavily they are flooded and that they want justice. But I wonder to my self, who are responsible for disposing of the garbage in the drains and gullies?, did they walk there by themselves or did Mr. Bruce Golding and other Members of Parliament visit their community and disposed of their garbage improperly.I definitely do not think so, because these people are the same ones who block the drains with their used pampers, sanitary napkins, the juices boxes and the list continues. We really need to as citizens,stop and realize that we are responsible for our own health and safety not the government.
ReplyDeleteIt is the government responsibility to ensure that drains are maintain regularly not only when the storm season.When the drains are cleaned then the government would have less burdens to encounter after the storm and more lives will be saved.
ReplyDeletei think that the government should play a role in the cleaning of the drains and they should ensure that the drains are always kept clean and not only during hurricanes. on the other hand i do believe that the citizens have a bigger role to play in the cleaning of the drains, the citizens should ensure that they clean the drains on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that it is the government's duty to ensure that the drains are cleaned in case of a hurricane, not the citizens. However, it is the citizens of Jamaica who are causing the drains to be clogged and in turn making it very bad for the rest of us(Jamaican citizens).
ReplyDeleteI believe it is both the government and the citizens responsibility to keep drains clean. when citizens keep drain clean, this puts less pressure on the government and during or after a hurricane it would be less work to clean the drains.also the cleaning of the drains provide free passage of water during a hurricane.
ReplyDeletei have to comment on Kelvin's thoughts about the government and the citizens working together, "a house that is divided just cant stand" this would be the most effective way of keeping the drainage clean that when a disaster come along there will not be any flooding.
ReplyDeleteIt is everybody's business to ensure that the drains are kept cleared during the hurricane season. the Government body is fully responsible to facilitate all the tools and equipments that are required to clean the drains. It can be very thretful to the citizens of Jamaica if the drains are not paid close attention to. If little or no attention is paid towards this burning issue, continuous flooding will occur, which will result in...
ReplyDeleteThe government is like a child who dont know how to act in appreciation to the love that they receive all year round but shows his interest, only that one time when he decide it is most needed, that is when the damage is already done. This damage done to the drains is long gone and has been in occurance for years. Just like how the government shows interest about the drains when it draw nearer to the season for rain, this too is when the people who will be affected become concerned with this problem. This is to say that everyone is to be blamed and as a result we are faced with the consequencies. If this is to be resolved, the government and the people at large has to join hands in comming together, not to only clean the drains as it draw nearer to this season, but also that it is cleaned and kept clean all year round.
ReplyDeleteI feel very sad and irritated when I see places that are destroyed by hurricane. It even pains my heart more, when we are responsible for some of the damage that occurs.
ReplyDeleteI will make my comments later. I am just testing my membership.
ReplyDeleteI am finally on. I will make my comment later.
ReplyDeleteI think the government is doing all that they can and no more. It's now up to the citizens to play their part in taking take of the drains by not dumping garages in them. This is one of the main reasons why there is flooding in many areas when we have a hurricane. Truly i think if the citizens come together and play their part they wont have to evacuate from some of these areas
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOD AM ON........
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the government of this country is not doing enough to protect us. They say they love us and that they do things in the best interest of this country but still, when we have hurricanes our lifes are treatened by the vast amount of water that flood our homes on a yearly basis. All because the drains are not properly kept.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand i believe that each person is responsible for their own habitat. Littering the environment will eventually cause a blockage to our drains and hence, we are flooded when we have hurricanes.
Finalmente, I am on.
ReplyDeleteits a great move, in the case of an hurricane we wont ve much flooding.
ReplyDeleteGood job! I like this...keep it up my friend.
ReplyDelete