– companies to assist with collection for remainder of 2018
Come January 2019, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be in a better position to pay its two major garbage collectors, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke disclosed in a press release from the council yesterday.
The statement was released to the media following a meeting between the council and the garbage collectors, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc and Cevons Waste Management, which was held to discuss the resumption of the contractors’ garbage collecting services in the city.
“Councillor Oscar Clarke reiterated that in the month of January, council would be in stronger financial position to liquidate its indebtedness to the contractors… At that meeting, both contractors agreed to resume waste collection in the city and await payments in January 2019,” the statement said.
However, during the meeting, which included Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk (ag) Sharon Harry Munroe and several senior officers of the Council, a new proposal was put forward to the contractors.
The press statement said that it was suggested to the contractors that for the remainder of 2018, they operate in four constituencies, while the small garbage contractors and the Solid Waste Department operate in constituencies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8.
“Council has proposed a new schedule for the remaining 12 days of 2018, the proposal states that: Puran Brothers will work in groups 7, 9 and will manage the static compactor at Albouystown market, while Cevons Waste management will operate in groups 5, 6 and the Bourda market compactor. The other groups: will be managed by the small contractors and the Municipal Solid Waste Management Department,” the statement from the council said.
Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, noted that the council presently has contractual agreements with all of the small contractors, which will expire in the month of January 2019. It was on this note, the statement said, the council suggested the new proposal.
In November, Puran Brothers and Cevons Waste Management suspended their garbage collecting services with the Council, due to council’s failure to pay in a timely manner.
The two companies, not long after, issued a joint statement calling on Central Government to intervene in order for them to be paid.
Responding to their call, the Ministry of Communities intervened and agreed to pay off a substantial amount owed to the two companies, resulting in both companies signaling their readiness to return and provide their service to the city. The Ministry of Communities has agreed to pay the contractors $130 million out of the total of $160 million owed for the services provided since June.
The M&CC will have to pay the two contractors the remaining $30 million.
Nonetheless, the council sought legal advice from its lawyers as it relates to the suspension of the contractors’ services. The advice is expected to be presented to council on Monday at its final statutory meeting.
The two major companies went on strike from November 26.
In the interim, five companies – Garbage Eaters, Grandison, C&S Garbage Collectors, Trash Tech and Tristara – have been working with the city’s Solid Waste Department to maintain the garbage collection service offered to businesses and citizens. The companies were asked to work on a line of credit basis, to which they agreed.
Stabroek News was unable to reach Puran Brothers Disposal Inc and Cevons Waste Management for a comment on the new developments.
