We asked the Deputy Prime Minister - and currently acting PM - whether Central Government may have to step in before this problem gets worse. Hyde wasn't aware of the issue, but plans to investigate:
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
"First I'm hearing of this. It's probably the first time in the PUP has had the council since 2018. Previous to that this was an issue that happened every single year, multiple times per year. This is the first time in the six years that we've been there that you've had this situation."
"That's the first thing I would see. We're going to have a sit with the council and find out what the issue is and how they can work it out. Ultimately, councils have peaks and valleys. There's a time of the year when they collect a lot of money. There's a time of the year when they don't, and then usually they have problems meeting their bills in times when they don't. But if you've had the contract for as long as you've had the contract and there's no other business in town, there's no other game in town, then you have to be able to sit down and reason and work through these things."
"Like you shouldn't get here. The city is dirty as it is. Even with the garbage being picked up on a regular basis, something's going to have to give. I think central government is going to have to sit with local government and find out exactly what is the situation."
Reporter
"Will you advocate or suggest that garbage tax?"
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
"Well, we're not there. We've not been there for the last six years. I don't see why we would have to go there now? We just have to figure out how to pay our bills and make sure that we are consistent with that."
"I mean, they've been doing it for the last six years, I see no reason why they can't continue to do that without a garbage tax. So I'm not obligated with a garbage tax at all."
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