The city’s proposed new garbage collection schedules for private contractors Cevons Waste Management Inc and Puran Brothers Disposal Services will be delivered to the companies today, acting Town Clerk Sharon-Harry Munroe assured last night.
Speaking to Stabroek News via phone, Harry-Munroe said the proposals were completed and will be dispatched to the companies. She noted that she was occupied with meetings yesterday and was unable to dispatch the proposals.
The companies complained last week about City Hall’s failure to complete the proposals five days after a meeting. The council has proposed that Puran Brothers work in Constituencies 7 and 9 and manage the static compactor at Albouystown market, while Cevons is to operate in Constituencies 5 and 6 and manage the Bourda market compactor. Despite not receiving the proposals, the companies returned to work in the earmarked areas on January 1st.
This temporary arrangement expires at the end of January. The temporary arrangement is in place to accommodate the five small contractors who agreed to work along with city’s Solid Waste Department to maintain the garbage collection service offered to businesses and citizens after Puran Brothers and Cevons suspended their services over nonpayment last year. The agreements between the five contractors–Garbage Eaters, Grandison, C&S Garbage Collectors, Trash Tech and Tristara–and the city come to an end this month.
Harry-Munroe last night disclosed that the city is awaiting the second legal opinion on the validity of the contract between the council and Puran Brothers and Cevons.
She explained in the first legal opinion sought by the council from attorney Roger Yearwood, the companies were found to be in breach of their contract. “The council has agreed to get a second opinion on the matter and we are waiting on that. That advice will direct us on how we should move forward,” she disclosed.
The Town Clerk noted that they are likely to go to tender for garbage collection in the city’s 15 constituencies should the second legal opinion find the companies in breach of their contracts. City Hall and the contractors have a binding contract until October 2020.
The two companies on November 26th withdrew their services from the municipality after it failed to pay a total of $160 million for the work they have done since June. The two companies subsequently 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 agreed to pay the contractors the full sum of $160 million owed to them after initially saying it would pay $130 million, with the city responsible for the remainder.
