OUTSIDE THE PULPIT: SSA crews are worthy of praise

By Reverend Errington Massiah | Fri, January 27, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Last Sunday night i watched a documentary on Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Television, which featured the work of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

The documentary was an eye-opener, and I hope that the public were able to understand how hard those SSA crews work.

It all started with one of the drivers leaving his home as early as 5 a.m. and arriving at the depot for a 6 a.m. start. But he never got started until around 9 a.m. because he had to wait for a truck which was still doing night duty.

Because of such a late start, the crew were unable to complete the route for that day and ended their day’s work around 2 p.m., an hour later than scheduled.

Due to this late finish, only one trip to the landfill was done, rather than the two trips as scheduled.

However, when the crew got going in the Ivy and parts of the Pine, St Michael, they really give it their all.

I was very impressed with them and at specific points along the route.

I really felt for the assistants (crew) who were forced from time to time to lift those 50-gallon cans filled with garbage onto the truck, which was not an easy task.

We must take greater care with the things that are placed into those bags and cans. Those SSA workers are looking after the health of the nation; but what about the health of those SSA workers?

It is time that we as a country start looking at the separation of garbage.

We must respect the SSA crews as very important workers in the country and not only when the garbage is not collected.

I do hope that when National Honours are given at Independence time, that these workers of this section of the SSA be recognized.