A caucus of City Councillors met with the sanitation companies today
but your garbage might still not be picked up and your street might still not
be cleaned tomorrow. That is because after an hour around the negotiating table
– positions were set out but no agreement was reached. The City Council
told both Belize Waste Control and BML that it can only afford to pay them for
this week – that’s $70,000. After the meeting, BML’s Manager
Lawrence Ellis told us that for him – that just isn’t enough –
he needs at least $300,000. But for a City Council that’s broke –
that is impossible. And so according to Ellis, Belize Maintenance Limited reserves
its rights to protest tomorrow. We also spoke to Deputy Mayor Dion Leslie and
City Councillor Phillip Willoughby about the stalemate.
Lawrence Ellis, Manager – BML
“Well we gave them a figure that I think I could use to pay my employees
their back pay and move forward with a commitment to the future but they are
going to decide. They say we should receive a week’s payment this week
but we haven’t gotten a firm commitment on which day we are going to get
it either. That is depending on the subvention that they are trying to get from
the government. But other than there is no other commitment.”
Dion Leslie, Deputy Mayor
“BML will receive a check this week and the council will meet again
on Thursday to finalize everything and both sanitation companies will be advised
after that meeting and then from there we will find a way forward.”
Keith Swift,
“Where will the money come from?”
Dion Leslie,
“Well we know for the payment which they will receive this week, it
will come from the subvention, that is budgeted for, and so I know about this
week. That is why we will meet again Thursday. We have a long meeting scheduled
for Thursday. We will be in here all day to discuss that. We will have the financial
controller along with us, we will have the city administrator along with us,
we will look at the council’s finances and find a way forward so that
we can satisfy the residents of Belize City.”
Lawrence Ellis,
“It was disappointing because I was hoping I could go back to my workers
and tell them that yes we will collect these monies and they can go back to
work. I told them I need at least $320,000. They can only confirm one payment
this week and they will look and see if they can find the rest.”
Keith Swift,
“But you need that $320,000.”
Lawrence Ellis,
“I need…because you see I have payments due to my employees.
It is unfair for them to go back to work on promises again and then we continue
with this same thing next week.”
Keith Swift,
“He told me he is disappointed.”
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
“Still yet that is irresponsible. I would not have said those words
because ultimately we have been sitting at the table for some time now trying
to rectify these contracts. For him to have said that then mein ditto on my
end.”
Keith Swift,
“So will BML resume their duties or is it still on a wait and see approach?”
Lawrence Ellis,
“No we have demonstration scheduled for tomorrow and we will proceed
as was scheduled.”
A similar proposal was tabled to Belize Waste Control. They too have
reserved their rights. Both companies they are still picking up garbage and
cleaning drains but claim to both be working on skeleton staff.