Cevon’s contentions are without merit – Communities Ministry

The Communities Ministry has come out in defence against reports made by Cevon’s Waste Management Inc, which earlier this week cried foul over the award of the contract for the development and maintenance of the controversial Haags Bosch solid waste disposal site, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Last week, a 1 million one-year contract was inked between the Communities Ministry and Puran Brothers Inc, for that company to maintain the Eccles, EBD dump site. Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, when questioned by Guyana Times assured that the awardee was found to be the most suitable among the four other bidders for the project.
But on Sunday, Cevon’s Waste Management came out swinging, contending that the process for the award of the contract was rather “unfair”, and had moved to file a protest with the Bid Protest Committee (BPC). Cevon’s cited low price, technical competence, operation methodology and past performance as reasons for the protest.
On Tuesday, the Communities Ministry said the contention made by Cevon’s Waste Management – of the decision to award the contract for the management of the Haags Bosch Landfill site to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc was unfair and biased – is without merit.
It said efforts to bring relief to residents of Eccles and neighbouring communities have been, over the past several months, working to ensure that the Haags Bosch Landfill facility be transformed into a site which complies with international and environmental standards.
“Due to this effort, a contract was signed on July 14, 2016 between the Ministry of Communities and Puran Brothers Disposal Inc with the aim of enhancing the aesthetics and implementing regulations that are in accordance with the relevant health standards”.
The Ministry said it remains committed to ensuring that new measures are implemented to guarantee the effective management of waste.
“The Ministry of Communities wishes to assure the public that claims by Cevon’s that the company was sidelined are inaccurate and reiterates that the tender process was based on the stipulated criteria as outlined in the Procurement Act”.
At the signing of the contract, Bulkan said that the signing of the new contract provides for different and improved features, including the use of a compactor unit to more efficiently manage the waste and to extend the duration and life of the landfill site.
“There will be daily cover of the waste to prevent odour and other unsanitary effects. There will also be proper fire fighting equipment,” he said, since there have been numerous bouts of fires during the last couple of months, following the departure of the previous contractor.
The Communities Minister said it is expected that a “fresh approach” from what was said was the continuation of an intended meaningful relationship between Central and Local Government.
The Minister, along with senior officials within his Ministry and representatives of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the contracted firm, had gathered in the boardroom of the site’s administrative building, at Eccles, to sign the contract.