– Mayor Green
THE ‘rhythm of collection’ by garbage contractors is now compromised by a number of issues surrounding the new landfill site at Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara, one being that it is located some seven miles outside the capital city of Georgetown.
Speaking with the press at his City Hall Office, Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green provided an update on the dumpsite which went into operation earlier this year. Unlike the Le Repentir site, the new facility, located aback Eccles, is not available round the clock and would close at 17:00 hrs (5 pm) in the afternoon. Contractors have subsequently complained that they are not allowed access to the site, even if they arrive a few minutes past 17:00 hrs.
Consequently, the contractors would either have to keep the garbage in the truck or return to the city with it. “And that itself compromises the rhythm of collection that the truck could do in normal circumstances,” the mayor pointed out.
For several years now, the council has toyed with the idea of what to do with the waste of the city. Discussions with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) therefore centered on establishing a facility in Georgetown and a modern type incinerator to supplement it.
“Because of attitudes which were extant at the time and financial considerations, it was agreed that we would just have a modern solid waste disposal facility. After some time, the government agreed to establish this facility at Haags Bosch, some seven miles outside Georgetown and behind Eccles,” Mayor Green remarked.
He also spoke about people who would dump wastes at any part of Georgetown. “This has contributed to a very ugly city. This behaviour by the public is most reprehensible and unacceptable.”
Green added that there is minimum success in arresting persons due to staff shortage and the cleverness of those who are just dirty and uncaring.
Over the next few weeks, the council will receive additional garbage trucks to supplement the work being done by garbage contractors. Two of the trucks, which were obtained on duty free concessions, are already in City Hall’s compound and documents for another two are being processed.    
“Those trucks are not to be put in use unless we settle the arrangements for use, maintenance and control. They should be in place long before end of the month,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, garbage contractors are currently owed $60M, and Mayor Green has offered that another payment to them could be made before the end of this week, depending on the inflow of taxes.
A representative of Puran Brothers Disposal Services told the Chronicle last week that the company is currently contemplating going on a strike as efforts to have dialogue with City Council officials on outstanding payments are proving futile.
The official said the municipality owes the company in excess of $25M and that a payment, representing 50 percent of the amount owed, was the last one made earlier this year just before the company went on strike. “We can’t continue to work without payment.”
City Hall’s financial situation can now be deemed hopeless even as government continues to render assistance to the trouble-prone municipality.
Meanwhile, City Treasurer Andrew Meredith reported at the council’s last statutory meeting that garbage contractors have not been paid since last March. The outstanding amount, in total, stands between $68M and 70M.
According to Meredith, the council’s liabilities at the end of April amounted to more than $980M. In excess of $600M is attributed to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and over $200M for miscellaneous creditors.
Less than a year ago, City Hall failed to meet its deadline to garbage contractors resulting in the latter suspending their services across the city.