Cevons, Puran Brothers withdraw services over $300M owed by Council

Aug 06, 2017 News

In a joint statement released last evening, Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers, the two principal waste disposal entities contracted to the Georgetown Municipality, indicated that they are withdrawing their services with effect from today, “in protest over the absence of progress in our efforts to secure payment, of amounts totaling in excess of three hundred million dollars owing to us by the Georgetown City Council”.
The companies said that their decision to “communicate this information directly to the citizens and institutions in and around the capital who will be affected by any suspension of waste disposal services” derives from their awareness of the likely implications of such action.
“Indeed, it is our wish that a change in the circumstances that led to our decision to withdraw our services in the first place can come about quickly, thereby significantly minimizing the impact of the action that has been taken.
Citizens will be aware that the two companies returned to work on Wednesday, 12th July, 2017 following four days of an earlier suspension of service beginning on tth July, 2017. Our return to work was contingent on an understanding reached with the Municipality that a meeting would be held shortly thereafter to discuss the execution of plans to make a payment to the service providers.
Up to this time and notwithstanding assurances given us by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan that the way had been cleared for such a meeting, the Municipality has shown no inclination to meet with us.”
The companies revealed that City Hall’s outstanding debts to them date back as far as 2015.
“Additionally, City Hall continues to commit itself to an unreasonable time frame for the full and final settlement of these debts. Engagements between City Hall and ourselves as have taken place have been characterized by insensitivity, disrespect for the two companies and a shocking level of brazenness.
“As has already been mentioned City Hall also appears to have no difficulty in giving commitments to make payments then cynically evading those commitments when the time comes to honor them. A point has been reached where we have no faith in their promises. Indeed, we doubt that they have the will to settle their debts to us any time soon.”
“Mindful as we are of the importance of both the health of the population and the environmental bona fides of our country we have formally notified His Excellency the President of our decision.
We wish to communicate to affected citizens our profound regret over the present situation. We have no wish to be seen as holding our capital to ransom.
It is our hope that City Hall will act in a manner that will minimize the difficulties that are bound to arise in this difficult situation.
We intend to keep citizens abreast of the situation as it unfolds,” the statement concluded.

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