Get ready for the stench: Waste Control to limit scheduled pickup of garbage
There’s a standoff between Waste Control and the Belize City Council over the perennial problem of garbage. The city has been unable to meet its obligations and Waste Control says it will be reducing garbage collection on the Northside of the City. So get ready for the stench. The Belize Waste Control notified residents today that beginning Monday, just after the Garifuna Settlement Day weekend, it will put into effect a limited schedule. The often cash strapped municipal government is in arrears with the sanitation company for the past four months and since it cannot be assured that CitCo will pay what it owes, the company has also decided to picket City Hall on Monday. If you think garbage collection on the north side is the only problem, well think again because the problem spreads to schools where the pileup is already creating a problem for school managements and students. Belize Waste Control has also deemed that it will no longer provide service for free. But the schools say they can’t afford the charges and on Tuesday the Belize District Association of Primary Principals met and decided that they’re not going to pay. So will the garbage just continue to pile up or will Belize Waste Control give in and waive the fees? We asked Mayor Zenaida Moya Flowers today for an update on the situation.
Zenaida Moya Flowers, Belize City Mayor
zenaida moya flowers
“We will be dialoguing with the owner of the Waste Control Company to ensure that we can come up with an amicable solution. We will be doing this in tandem with the Ministry of Education because they are responsible for the schools as well as the Principals Association and the general managers of the different schools to ensure that whatever can be worked out is worked out. I had already informed the company that schools operate by a budget. That budget has already been approved and that is what they are working on this year and that budget does not include payment for garbage disposal. So there has to be something that can be done to ensure that they continue picking up the garbage, understanding fully well that the schools will not be able to pay for it this school year.”
Delahnie Bain
“It was decided earlier that the fee would have been suspended until it was all sorted out but apparently they were still being charged?”
Zenaida Moya Flowers
“Again, that is a matter that we will be discussing and whilst we cannot force a private company to not charge for services rendered, we’re hoping that an amicable solution will be reached nonetheless and that discussions can be had that perhaps for the next coming school year that if in fact it reaches to the fact that some payment has to be made for the pickup of schools then discussions will be made but for the next school year.”
this corrupt gov is already broke they cant even pay for garbage you cannot expect a company to work for free i hope every one goes and dump their garbage in front of the pm house would serve him right.
This is the price we pay for giving someone a monopoly.
Very interesting indeed. Our local government is forgetting a very important issue – one that is more important thatn money, the lives of the Belizean People. Please, if someone could visit the health facilities and discover how many people are falling ill with bacterial infections and the sort. The city needs to be cleaned up because this is no longer a political issue. If they cannot find answers, then they need to step down and give someone else the opportunity who knows how to negotiate and work with people. The holes in the sidewalks of Orange Street has been there for too long. Please, why are we paying these people salaries if they don’t care about the people’s welfare. It is our tax dollars that they are stealing from us to do nothing but complain. Thanks.
When budgets are set, are these things not accounted for, dont we have accruals for the expenses we know we have. How can the Citi be that far behind in payments, and where did the money that was accrued for Waste Control actually go, and can we trace it. Are we using napkins or .. oh whats the point. This is BAU for Belize. The Mayor is doing a horrible job. Belize City looks like a cess pit.
I watched Dogs of War the other day just for the hell of it, and you know what… looks the same.
I agree with everyone above. BWC need to pay there workers so if they cant continue picking up garbage for free,there truck runs on fuel so i think the school needs to be paying for Garbagem the mayor is doing a really really really bad job!
Broke? But they the drive round millions of dollars worth of vehicles my buddy and no stop buy them at all for these ministers who need drivers – to drive around in a country that barely 200 miles long and 60 miles wide – drivers making way more money than most people. Broke when it comes to help Belizeans not broke when it comes to help themselves though. Drawn and quartered need to be brought to Belize for our politicians.
I propose a recall vote for Mayor Zenaida and her entire crew. just look at the streets, never in history have they been in this state. sand and gravel to patch potholes on Princess Margaret Drive. how broke is the Council!!!!!!! that they can’t even buy tar.. look at the grass in the drains and now no garbage collection . well the entire City will be one hot spot soon, thanks to Z.
All household should pay for the disposal of their garbage! Why must the government be responsible for the disposal of the waste that WE generate? And most importantly, when will there be an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan introduced..all municipalities should have one. If you analyze your waste you will realize that up to 90% of this is recyclable. Imagine, such a small country and we can’t even have an efficient waste disposal plan. People…be aware of the environment and its perils.
I feel sorry for Zenaida and her council always having to make a dollar outta nothing, especially since lots a people still not paying thie taxes. ministry of education need t step to the plate and do their part.
ZENAIDA stole the money people in her own circle accused her ,she gave her brother loans and now they don’t have money to pay for garbage thers the proof the money was really stolen and why hasn’t the brother pay for the loan yet? and why if belizean citizens know all the facts why is ZENAIDA MAYA still in power ? why hasn’t barrow got rid of her yet i don’t like this barrow let me see i don’t think ill vote for u again
One case in which WE SHOULD NATIONALIZE the garbage collection.
THE CITY COUNCIL should be IN CHARGE OF PICKING UP GARBAGE, and With all the RESIDENTS OF KOLBE, we can have “FREE GARBAGE PICK-UPS”, BY THOSE BUMS WE HAVE TO PAY TO FEED AND HOUSE.
LET THEM EARN THEIR KEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!