The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said a new bidding process will be launched to select a manager for the New Providence landfill, describing the tender issued by the previous administration as "greatly flawed".

Romauld Ferriera, minister of the environment and housing, said: "The previous government commenced an RFP to find a new manger of the landfill. This process was greatly flawed as it was rushed to beat the date of a general election.

"The Ministry of Environment and Housing is preparing to issue a new request for proposal (RFP) for the management of the landfill that will take into account policies and regulations for non-recyclable, non-compactable and hazardous waste, with considerations for the deconstruction and proper engineering of the landfill."

The Opposition earlier this week urged the Minnis administration to enter into negotiations with the Bahamian consortium it said was selected as preferred bidder by the former administration.

It argued that there was no need to stop or cancel the process, and said the Bahamian consortium, Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG), and its financial partner, Providence Advisors, had been selected as the preferred bidder out of two offers.

Ginny McKinney, principal of WasteNot, told Tribune Business earlier this week that she and other members of the 10-strong WRDG were hoping they could at least discuss the contents of their bid with the Minnis administration, given the time and money invested in it.

The Christie administration committed in the Baha Mar Heads of Agreement to resolve the landfill's woes by year-end, or otherwise new owners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), would be released from their performance obligations.

Mr Ferriera yesterday outlined what he said were short, medium and long-term initiatives to handling the landfill.

In the short-term, he said that the Government would develop a communications programme in consultation with the community and conduct awareness meetings with affected individuals to understand the environmental environmental and health implications, so they can comply with the required standardised health checks.

Mr Ferriera said the Government will also enhance security at the landfill to provide constant monitoring at the site, and provide the necessary equipment to fight fires that may occur in the future and reduce the likelihood of future fires.