Working to Fix Sanitation Woes

Bernard Wagner

Mayor Bernard Wagner admitted today that City Hall is facing some financial challenges and is in arrears with the Belize Waste Control.  Now, if you’ve been following the news for the past several years, you’d know that City Council usually goes into arrear with the Waste Control – but it something that they usually sort out. Mayor Wagner added that they will do everything to ensure that the monies outstanding are paid to Waste Control. According to Wagner, they encountered the arrears on the books when they took up administration at the City Hall. But how will the arrears affect garbage collection? Well, according to the City Council, last week’s reported go-slow was not sanctioned by the sanitation company and since then, they have met and talked about the way forward.

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We are facing some financial challenges, obviously, but we are committed to ensuring that we keep up to date as best as possible. We are working to ensure that we have a good relationship with the people at Waste Control. It is unfortunate that we are in this position. It is something that we inherited. We are not shying away from it and we will deal with it.   We found the system unpaid. It is in receivables – in our receivable books and we found it that way and we have been trying to keep up as best as possible. Like I told you, we face some little financial challenges but nothing that we cannot get out of.”

Reporter

“So, any arrears at this time?”

Bernard Wagner

“There is arrears. I don’t have the figures but there is arrears.”

Oscar Arnold

Oscar Arnold, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“That incident that you spoke about happened whilst the Mayor was away and I was looking after it. When I heard about it, I contacted the principals over at the Waste Control and they knew nothing of it. In fact, there was a miscommunication that happened on their part. They will be back in country this week and I will be meeting with them. They had no idea – and they didn’t issue any directive for that to happen because we have been enjoying a very, very friendly relationship with them. They have committed to work with the City even in times when things slow down because they understand the factors that are involved. So, that incident, while it was an incident that occurred, didn’t have the blessings on their part. And our sanitation czar Mr. Noralez picked up the slack and by the following morning, those residents were remedied and the garbage carted away.”