Although construction of the Haags Bosch landfill is lagging, a section of the facility will be made available for use by the end of next month, according to Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall.
At a press briefing yesterday at the Local Government Ministry, Lall stated that the ministry along with other stakeholders met with President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday and the contractor gave the assurance that a cell within the facility will be ready for use by January 2011.
It was noted that the facility is 40% complete while other outstanding works will be completed during 2011.
A $9,729,822 contract was awarded to BK International in association with Puran Brothers Disposal Service in November 2009 for the construction of the new landfill. The contract stipulated a construction period of 12 months and an operation period of 10 years. The initial opening date for the new site had been given as January 15, 2011.
Lall also noted that the “unfortunate episode in the city” —a reference to the Mandela Avenue landfill—is being looked at and he gave an assurance that the situation there will be remedied as early as possible. He said that there is a misconception that the landfill is being “taken over” by the ministry but according to him the authorities are only providing assistance to the Georgetown municipality.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, who was present at yesterday’s briefing, noted that just a week ago garbage at the Mandela Avenue site was “almost out to the Vlissengen Road area.” He said the ministry has been assisting the Georgetown municipality in ensuring that close to 100 meters of garbage was pushed back to the main site. He said that the authorities plan to complete the road which leads to the landfill from the eastern side of Mandela Avenue.
The problematic landfill has proved to be a sore point for the authorities and recently social activist Mark Benschop and Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon appeared in court to answer charges for traffic violations stemming from a protest outside the dumpsite. Benschop reportedly blocked access to the gates leading to the western side of the landfill along Vlissengen Road. He told this newspaper recently that he was concerned about the site being a health hazard to persons living in its vicinity.
