…says Cevons, Purans

THE two main garbage contractors attached to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) feel that the municipality is wasting their time and is making no real effort to resolve the issues surrounding their contracts which are valid until 2020.

The M&CC had recently asked the contractors to write to City Hall with proposals on the way forward, but didn’t bother to even acknowledge receipt of such letters, more so respond to such. On Tuesday, representatives of both companies, Kalesh Puran and Morse Archer, told this publication that they are now inclined to consult with their lawyers regarding the pause in their contracts by the City Council, even though such remain valid until next year.

Puran said his company is a bit alarmed at the operations of the City Council, especially as the company continues to make every effort to sit and talk with the municipality. He reminded that although the problems originated with the M&CC, his company has acceded to all of the municipality’s requests so far as it relates to writing or meeting with it (the municipality).

He said the company is considering other courses of action at the moment, including engaging their lawyers, because the City Council’s treatment is unfair.

Archer told this publication that though saying one thing, the City Council seems to be extending the contracts with the smaller contractors every month. “They’re just trying to waste our time. I don’t think they are serious about negotiating with us,” Archer expressed.
The companies are being handed this kind of treatment even though they are still doing more than 50 percent of City Hall’s work. Furthermore, they have not been paid for such work for the year so far.

Recently, Mayor Ubraj Narine told reporters that there were many things in the contracts with the contractors that he felt ought to be changed. During his tenure as mayor, he said he would not see the signing of such contracts again.

For one thing, Narine believes that the length of the contracts, being five years, is too long. “The length of the contract is not appropriate. I would say sign a six-month contract and see the operation of the contractor before deciding if to sign another one.”
The five smaller contractors who were hired have again been granted another extension, this time until April 26.

City Councillors last month voted to extend the contracts of smaller garbage contractors until March month-end even as Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, urged them to enter renegotiation with the city’s main collectors.

Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. opted to pull their services late last year, when the City Council racked up more than six months of outstanding balances.

Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore, had pointed out that the fact remains that it is the City Council that owes the contractors. “It’s a breach on our part. We are the ones who caused this dilemma,” he said.

Councillor Gregory Fraser had advised that the two main contractors be re-engaged, owing to the fact that the City Council was first in breach. He said business persons will understand what it means to continue working without being paid.

Both contractors had said that it was not a case where they wanted to stop working, but that their current financial positions did not permit them to continue without pay.
Company representatives had said that they were frustrated by the M&CC’s inability to make timely payments.