The government is considering five proposals, including by Canadian and Trinidadian firms, to set up recycling plants here, according to Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud.
At a news briefing yesterday, Persaud said that several issues have to be considered and ironed out as regards the setting up of the plants, including suitable lands to be used for landfills.
He said that another factor which is hindering the plans centred on commitments given by the 13 contracted waste disposal firms to convert their operations to the standard of recycling plants. He said that some of the companies have made commitments to establishing varying disposal facilities.
Last month, President Donald Ramotar said government stands ready to grant tax-free concessions to any company desirous of setting up a recycling plant.
Meanwhile, Persaud said the Local Government Ministry is studying the plans of nine of the 10 administrative regions that will be incorporated in next year’s national budget. At the same time, he noted that 61 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have received the first payment of their subventions for the 2012 fiscal year from the Local Government Ministry.
Persaud said nine of the 10 administrative regions have submitted their respective budgets for 2013. He said only Region 10 has not submitted its budget. He said that a budget discussion will be undertaken this week at the level of the Finance Ministry as regards spending by each region in 2013.
As regards subventions for the municipalities, he said that all six municipalities have received their subventions for their 2011 programme. As regards subventions for that year, he said Linden, Georgetown and Rose Hall have not submitted their plans to the ministry’s Municipal Services Department.
According to Persaud, the department will continue to work with those municipalities with regard to the submission of their plans.
For 2012, the Local Government Minister said that four municipalities have submitted their proposals and three of the four have received the first part of their subventions, those being Rose Hall, Corriverton and Anna Regina.
He said that the Linden and Georgetown municipalities are still compiling their subvention programmes for 2012.
Persaud also disclosed yesterday that three of the remaining four NDCs have submitted their proposals for this year. This was done recently and according to him, the documents will be examined before they obtain green light to receive the subvention.
