DeFreitas rolls up his sleeves and collects garbage left by Government, showing what ‘representation looks like’

Franz deFreitas is calling on Sir Molwyn Joseph, the Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, to demit office given his lack of attention to on-time garbage collection across the island.

DeFreitas, the United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidate for St. John’s City South, was out in the constituency this morning, September 15, in the inclement weather, collecting garbage that the National Solid Waste Authority has left piling up for weeks.

Earlier this week, deFreitas had placed the government agencies on notice that, if the waste was not picked up by Wednesday, September 14, he would do it himself.

The Candidate reports that one household had about four garbage receptacles filled to capacity, and these were being held in place by big stones. He notes, too, that there were some households without garbage drums, and so they had resorted to boxes. These had gotten wet in the rain, causing dogs to easily rip them apart and scatter the rubbish all over the community.

DeFreitas says his initiative on Thursday morning demonstrates what true representation should look like – rather than what the people of this country and residents of St. John’s City South have been accepting from Antigua Labour Party politicians.

Further, he promises that the constituency can expect more of this type of representation once he is elected to Parliament.

Meanwhile, the UPP Candidate warns that the non-collection of garbage could be creating a national health crisis, since vermin are attracted to filth, on which they feast before making their way into people’s homes.

He notes that rats and mice are known to cause ailments in humans, and even droppings from dogs can cause illnesses.

Along with deFreitas, Candidate Algernon “Serpent” Watts planned a similar action for the St. George constituency – in particular in Potters – if waste in that community was not collected by Wednesday.

Senator Jonathan Joseph, the UPP Candidate for St. Mary’s North, was forced to conduct a similar garbage-collection exercise in the Cashew Hill and Bendals areas earlier this summer.