Solid Waste Regional. Country Analytical Report, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Evaluation 2002

Abstract

[Introduction]The process of collecting and developing the data required for the production of Evaluation 2002 for St. Vincent and the Grenadines was carried out by a PAHO representative in conjunction with the General Manager of the Solid Waste Management Unit of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Assistance was also given by the Operations Manager, and the Collection Superintendent of SWMU as well as the Financial Officer of CWSA. Additional information was obtained from the Chief Environmental Health Officer of the Public Health Department. St. Vincent and the Grenadines form an independent country within the British Commonwealth. The survey covers the main islands of St. Vincent and the northern Grenadines, including the larger islands of Bequia, Canouan and Union Island. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a full member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The Central Government is located in Kingstown, St. Vincent. The overall management of solid waste is controlled by the Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) which is, for administrative purposes, located within the Central Water and Sewerage Authority. The Central Water and Sewerage Authority and the Solid Waste Management Unit form a semi-autonomous entity under the Central Government. This administrative arrangement was developed in response to the requirements of Component 3 of the World Bank/Caribbean Development Bank Ship-Generated Waste Management and Solid Waste Management Projects. The solid waste management system in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is extremely highly rated in the Implementation Completion Report (ICR) issued by the World Bank in November 2003. The report makes specific reference to greatly improved collection services both on the main island and the smaller islands as well as a much improved percentage of collected materials which reach the final disposal sites. In addition, St. Vincent has developed a highly successful system of cost recovery that has sharply reduced the need for direct Government funding.