Councillor Philip Willoughby talks about the garbage issue

Councilor responsible for Garbage, Philip Willoughby, has come up with wild proposals, which were quickly brushed away by his colleagues. Willoughby today had another brainwave and he says he will now meet with the Public Service Union, UB’s Student Government and the Chamber of Commerce. On Tuesday Cabinet established a ministerial sub-committee to meet with the council and the contractors. When this will take place is not known, but by the end of the day neither the council nor the sub-committee had met.

Philip Willoughby, Councilor for Garbage
“A special select committee has been tasked by the Cabinet and the Prime Minister to get in and assess the situation and likewise find the suitable remedy and permanent solution to this problem. We cannot look to solve their problem in isolation of the contract. We have to look at the contract holistically and come up with a solution to the contract because the contractual obligation or payment on the council is the bottom-line as to why we are at where we’re at, nonetheless. And until we can fix that then we remain at this juncture where we’re at right now with B.M.L. I have engaged just this morning with the president of the P.S.U., Jackie Willoughby-Sanchez, to further discussions and to give an explanation to this situation and my position, which is not that of the council. I have my own views. I have engaged with my colleagues at the University of Belize to engage also. So, I believe this evening we meet with Miss Willoughby and the S.G. from U.B. to hope to come to a common understanding to where we are and look at solutions. And whatever solutions that are derived at that will be shared with my colleagues in the council. If there are other solutions on the table that might come from the Chamber or the Unions or the special select committee from the Cabinet, the best option we will go with to find a solution to the problem ultimately, ultimately.”

Willoughby meets with the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow at ten-thirty a.m. to discuss the problem. The council is also meet tomorrow afternoon.