New Amsterdam Municipality, Local Government Ministry on collision course

Jan 25, 2014 News

‘Town Clerk forced to sign document under duress’- Deputy Mayor

New Amsterdam Municipality and the Ministry of Local Government are on a collision course over collecting Solid Waste in Municipality
It seems like the same script but different players. The allegation is that the Ministry is using the Town Clerks to bully the various Municipalities. But the New Amsterdam Town Council is prepared to fight. The council is ready to reject a document purportedly signed by its Town Clerk, Sharon Alexander, giving the greenlight to Advanced Environmental Solutions whose Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Zaheer Osman, with office at Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam.
This disclosure was made by Deputy Mayor Harold Dabydeen at a press briefing held in the chambers of the Mayor and Town Council in New Amsterdam, yesterday.
A terse and upset Mr. Dabydeen was flanked by Environmental Health Officer Mr Ackloo Samsud and Councilor Joseph Anthon.
The Deputy Mayor stated that he was invited to a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development where a number of officials from the other Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) were present. He said that Town Clerk Alexander was also at that meeting.
Mr. Dabydeen stated that from his understanding the meeting had to do with the performance of the local Government organs and the collection of Solid Waste in the Region. He said that he paid rapt attention to the presenters and after listening in depth to everything that was said he was not satisfied that Environmental Solution was up to the job.
He said that as such, it was reasoned that unless the company could come up with something tangible to satisfy the Mayor and Town Council and the residents that it could fulfill the mandate of Solid Waste collection in the Town, the council will not enter into any agreement to privatise solid waste collection in the town.
“This issue is a no, no because there are loopholes in the matter.
He questioned the working of the Local Government Ministry and called for an immediate investigation into the workings of that Ministry.
The Deputy Mayor added that before the conclusion of the meeting, the Town Clerk asked to be excused and was quickly followed by an official of the Local Government Ministry- one Mr. Jerrick.
Mr. Dabydeen said that to his astonishment, he received a call from the Town Clerk during the evening informing him that she was forced to sign a document that gave the right to Mr. Osman, to collect solid waste from residents and businesses in the Municipality.
He said that the council views the situation as serious. Mr. Dabydeen said that what was upsetting and totally disrespectful and a blatant eye pass was that he as Deputy Mayor of the Municipality was present at the meeting and the Local Government Ministry totally disregarded him.
The Deputy Mayor said that the municipality will disregard the document signed by the Town Clerk.
In answer to another question, he said that the Town Clerk was not given a copy of the document and from what he understood she was not even given a chance to read the document.
He said that there is a Statutory Meeting planned for Monday and the issue will be fully ventilated. He is not sure what action will be taken against the Town Clerk since the entire council is upset.
Meanwhile Town Clerk Sharon Anderson stated that the entire issue of Solid Waste has to do with the Ministry of Local Government and any questions should be directed to the Ministry. She said that she did not get to read the document, but from what she understood it did not hand over the job of solid waste collection to anyone, but just gave permission for collection.
Advanced Solutions had planned to start the collection by the end of last year . The company was awarded the contract by the Local Government Ministry after the government terminated the contract of Concept Solid Waste because that company failed to meet the requirements stipulated by the contract.
It is not too sure where the Company would be dumping its solid waste.

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