Latest update January 23rd, 2025 6:07 AM
Local Govt. Ministry axes solid waste contractor in Berbice
…new contract signed
By Leon Suseran
Months after awarding a multi- million dollar contract, the Ministry of Local Government has terminated the services of Concept Solid Waste Disposal in Berbice.
CEO of Concept Mr. Zaheer Osman preparing to sign the contract.
Concept was awarded a multi-million dollar contract with the Region Six Administration to collect garbage from Number 1 Road to Kildonan on the Corentyne.
Region 6 Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, stated that the “experiment” with that company was not what the government expected and “as a result, we have had cause to terminate the contract.”
Kaieteur News understands that the termination was due to the contractor not having the right equipment for the job.
Earlier this week, Advance Solutions was awarded the contract at a simple signing ceremony which was held at the Region Six RDC Boardroom in Vryman’s Erven.
The ceremony was attended by RDC officials as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Local Gov’t Ministry, Colin Croal. The new contractor also has the job for garbage collection and disposal from Number 1 Road to Mara along the East Bank of Berbice, giving that company the task of collecting and disposing of most of the garbage and solid waste in Region 6.
Armogan stated that from all indications, “we have confidence that Concept will do a good job, now that his boundaries have been extended and we hope that this, in some way, will go in the direction, which is the privatization of solid waste disposal.”
He noted that the entire idea of privatizing the task in Berbice has given the administration “headache” over the past couple of months, “with problem after problem” occurring, especially with the contractors.
Also, some Berbicians are very reluctant to get on board with the new system and do not want to pay $300 per barrel of garbage per week.
Permanent Secretary Colin Croal declared that the awarding of contracts for solid waste disposal to private contractors is something that will spread throughout the country.
“This is something that is happening across the Regions and it will start very soon in Region Four,” since there is another arrangement for garbage disposal at the Haags Bosch Site. When that project comes to an end very shortly, the residents in Region Four will have to pay a fee.
According to Croal, “exciting times are ahead for Guyana” in terms of solid waste disposal as well as recycling.
Government, he stated, is at the stage where a Recycling Contractor has been identified. Currently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is being drafted between the contractor and the Ministries of Local Gov’t and Natural Resources which will proceed to Cabinet for approval. “This is intended to deal with, by and large initially Region Four and we hope that it will expand further.”
Croal is expectant that the Solid Waste Management Bill, currently in the Chambers of the Attorney General, will be completed by the last quarter of this year.
“It’s in its finalization stage and it should be ready…”
That Bill, he stated, is concomitant with the other programs government has in place for garbage disposal “to ensure that we have the mechanisms in place to deal with people breaching the regulations and law—and with that, stiffer penalties for dealing with persons who know the rules and know what is required (with littering).”
He pleaded with residents of Region Six to “come on board” and reminded citizens that the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Municipalities no longer have the task to collect garbage, “while they will still have a responsibility for public spaces and institutions.”
The Ministry is also working to allocate newer landfill sites at the moment in Berbice.
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