Concerns about timely garbage collection throughout the country and reporting environmental concerns has prompted the Bahamas Government to establish a Department of Environmental Health Services Help Desk for the public at large.
“At the beginning of my term as Minister of the Environment and Housing, I expressed my intention to create a ‘Help Desk’ within the Department of Environmental Health Services,” said Ken Dorsett.
“I am pleased this morning to formally announce that the Help Desk has been established and it is fully functional. My goal was for the general public to have a specific place they could contact concerning garbage collection, and to report other environmental concerns. My hope is that this Desk will foster better communication and accountability between the Department of Environmental Health Services and the public at large.”
On February 6, Minister Dorsett made the announcement in the DEHS Conference Room at the Farrington Road office. He was accompanied by Melanie McKenzie, Director of DEHS and Leonard Miller, assistant director who will be responsible for managing the Help Desk with the assistance of Charlecia Ferguson, Candice Ferguson and Lateshia Major, who will be answering the calls of concern.
“For those whose trash is not collected on time this is the place to contact. If you have a concern with rodents, mosquitoes or other pests, this is the place to contact. Persons should also be able to ascertain on which day their trash is scheduled to be collected in order to properly prepare and know when the garbage truck is off schedule,” said Minister Dorsett.
“I have mandated those who will man this desk to ensure that as much as humanly possible every call, email or message is answered and the concerns addressed to the satisfaction of all concerned. We are here to serve the Bahamian people and I sincerely hope that this Desk will assist us in serving the people more efficiently.”
Minister Dorsett said the desk could be reached by various mediums including social media. He said the information would also be posted on the Ministry of the Environment and Housing’s Facebook page for the convenience of those trying to reach the desk, by searching Ministry of the Environment and Housing (Bahamas) on Facebook.
The desk can be contacted by phone at (242) 302-5245 or (242) 302-5184, by email at dehshelp@hotmail.com, or by Twitter @dehshelp, or by Text Messages can be sent to (242) 451-3985.
By Gena Gibbs
Bahamas Information Services
