REGIONAL multilateral financial institution, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signaled “intended indications” to withdraw from the almost completed Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL) project in Eccles, East Bank Demerara, which commenced some four years ago. According to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, in an interview with this publication yesterday, while there have been indications by the financial institution to withdraw their efforts in seeing the successful completion of this project, it would be premature to make any pronouncement on the issue.

Additionally, the Minister disclosed that a meeting is scheduled for today which will facilitate talks between the Ministry and the IDB on the way forward for the project.
Unconfirmed reports had suggested that the project was found to have contained a number of discrepancies, which needed urgent clarifications.

Bulkan was, however, reluctant to make a pronouncement on the nature of the “intended indication” by the financial body, offering rather to “wait and see what comes out of the meeting tomorrow (today)” since he remains optimistic that the IDB will lend support in seeing the completion of the project.
Signed in 2007, the then Government of Guyana (GoG) and the IDB had entered a loan agreement to finance the estimated US$20 million Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL) Project. Despite being signed in 2007 however, the project was operationalised in the latter part of 2011.
Construction giant, BK International, supported by Puran Brothers Disposal Services was awarded a US$9.7M contract where the two entities were tasked with constructing the landfill and operating the site over a five to nine years period.
Located just behind the Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the sanitary landfill project has routinely failed to meet deadlines in its completion date, with the last proposed date being November 15, 2014, as was promised by former Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker.
Initially, the bank had commenced disbursing the resources from 2007 with the expectation of the project being completed within five years. But not limited to financing, the IDB has also been providing training and capacity-building skills to those persons managing the project.
According to the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the project entails provision for:
* Institutional strengthening and capacity building.
* Public awareness and community participation.
* Construction and operation of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill.
* Waste collection and disposal from NDCs.
* Treatment and disposal of healthcare and hazardous waste.
The former Government had also disclosed in the 2014 National Budget that while the IDB was offering some US$20M (Gy$4B) towards the project, the estimated total cost had been pegged at just over Gy$5 billion. The additional $1B was proposed to be financed by central government.
The landfill is expected to facilitate garbage disposal from Georgetown and some 15 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The overall benefit of the project was outlined as “improved sanitation.”

By Ravin Singh