The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN Honorary Consul is among the principals in a consortium named as one of the seven bids to qualify for the next round of the New Providence landfill management tender.

Cedric Scott, the actor, producer and uncle of former Cabinet minister, Jerome Fitzgerald, is listed by Bahamas WTP LTD's website as one of its five principals, with the group just one of several Bahamian-led bids qualifying to receive the full landfill 'Request for Proposal' (RFP). Other qualifiers include BISX-listed Bahamas Waste, plus consortium featuring Providence Advisors and its principal, Kenwood Kerr, and the Bahamian waste services providers who remain in the Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG).

The other four bidders to make it through to the next round are Valoriza Sevicios Medioambientales, a Spanish-headquartered waste and environmental services provider with significant interests in the Latin American region; Eastern Waste Systems, which appears to be a Florida-based garbage disposal operation; Marine Contractors Inc and Apapa International (Nassau).

One bidder that did not make it through to the RFP 'round' was Stellar Energy, the firm that became embroiled in the Renward Wells 'Letter of Intent' controversy when the former Christie government was in office. Jean-Paul (JP) Michielsen, Stellar Energy's chief executive, while expressing disappointment at the group's omission said it was more important that the landfill's environmental and health woes were finally solved for the benefit of all Bahamians.

"It is what it is," he told Tribune Business. "As long as they take care of that, that's the most important thing as far as I'm concerned. As long as it's taken care of, that's all that matters for the country." Romauld Ferreira, minister of housing and the environment, said each of the seven shortlisted bids contained a mix of Bahamian and foreign components. He added that all 18 'expressions of interest' were judged on whether they possessed the necessary technical expertise, financing and experience to do what is necessary at the New Providence landfill.

The seven 'qualifying' bidders have until February 22 to submit any questions in relation to the RFP's demands and contents, with the Government looking to conclude the landfill manager search process by June 25 this year.

The Minnis administration has come under renewed pressure to solve the landfill's problems following the latest eruption of fires at the site, which again blanketed nearby communities and businesses with smoke and noxious fumes that represent potential health hazards, seriously disrupting daily life.

Tribune Business's research uncovered the Bahamas WTP Ltd website, which revealed that the group's two other Bahamas-based principals apart from Mr Scott are banker Ivylyn Cassar and permanent resident Fay Russell. The company's physical address is listed as Ms Cassar's Equity Bank & Trust, based in western New Providence.

Bahamas WTP is a consortium that also features two US companies, Delaware-incorporated Ameresco Ltd and Louisiana-based Furnace and Tube Services Inc. Its website touts a waste-to-energy solution for the New Providence landfill's woes, and describes the group as having "a combined 50 years of experience in sustainable technology research and development, engineering, project development and maintenance, and transparent financial oversight of multi-million dollar civic projects"

Ameresco is billed as a financier and developer of energy efficiency and conservation projects, while Furnace and Tube Services provides engineering design, installation and maintenance for such projects. Lavon W. Maulden, Furnace and Tube Services chairman and chief executive, did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

But, succinctly outlining the hazards presented by the landfill, the Bahamas WTP website said: "New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70 per cent of the country's total population. With 3,433 people per square mile, proper waste disposal and landfill management is critical to public health and safety.

"The New Providence landfill is responsible for all the waste management on the island. Today it is classified as a hazard to the citizens. Toxins pollute the air, contaminate the soil, and seep into and poison ground water. Methane gas builds up and escapes, frequently causing uncontrollable fires that release clouds of dangerous pollutants.

"Decades of stored garbage up to 75 feet high, improperly managed, have created an environmental disaster. The expense to continue to manage and recycle thousands of tons of garbage in the same way is unsustainable, and it will continue to damage the environment."

Bahamas WTP is offering to solve the problem by converting the landfill's garbage into energy via a waste-to-energy plant, which it promises will lower energy costs and reduce environmental damage.

In common with other bidders, its website also offers to remediate the site's various cells; reclaim space for recreational and energy usage; reduce and eliminate fires; and implement environmental monitoring.