The Tribune

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

RENEW Bahamas, former managers of the New Providence Landfill, yesterday took issue with assertions from Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira that its work at the dumpsite was a “disaster,” insisting it had spent $10m to change solid waste management in the country.   

Renew said it is disappointing to have been treated poorly as an investor that brought capital, technology and knowledge to train Bahamians in landfill remediation. This, it said, was a warning to potential investors that a lack of maturity exists when it comes to the government and its handling of deals that are agreed upon.

The company released this statement the day after Mr Ferreira said Renew’s work at the site was to blame for the three fires that have happened at the dumpsite in less than a year.

On Saturday, a portion of the landfill caught fire and officials at the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) now suspect combustion or some other kind of chemical reaction is to blame for the blaze, telling The Tribune yesterday it was unlikely the work of an arsonist.

Since the fire was ignited at the dumpsite, Thomasina Wilson, senior deputy at DEHS with responsibility for all landfill sites in the country, said there are no flames but the area remains hot as officials continue to work there.

On Monday, while defending the government’s work since coming to office last year in rectifying the New Providence Landfill’s issues, Mr Ferreira said DEHS officials have done a better job of maintaining the site when compared to Renew.

Renew was contracted under the former Christie administration in 2014. However, in 2016 Renew discontinued this work.

“In response to recent public statements from Minister Romauld Ferreira and the government of the Bahamas, we wish to state that Renew Bahamas did not walk away from its obligations under the landfill management agreement,” the company said in a press statement yesterday. “To date, Renew has invested more than $10m in the Bahamas to positively change the solid waste management industry.

“Renew Bahamas ceased operations due to a number of unresolved disputes created by the government of the Bahamas, which failed to adhere to significant terms of the landfill management agreement and has refused to meet to facilitate a resolution. After more than 18 months of unsuccessfully trying to amicably resolve the disputes, and government’s deafening silence, Renew has applied to the Supreme Court for relief, including the protection of its fixed and moveable assets, which government has improperly and unlawfully restrained.

“Renew takes issue with the suggestion that it was failing operationally, when the government’s own experts from the University of Florida confirmed the contrary. The July 2016 report from their experts included a statement that: ‘Renew has made great progress and has remediated over 50 per cent, however despite the effort a lot more support needs to be given by government.’”

The statement continued: “The government of the Bahamas in the terms of the contract, was responsible for agreeing and paying for the remediation and restoration plan. The government continues to owe Renew Bahamas substantial monies related to works performed and confirmed by the government’s consultants.

“Renew has written, and has made numerous attempts to meet with the government to resolve the many issues arising out of the landfill management agreement. The outstanding issues cannot be resolved without government’s participation. Unfortunately, government has shown no interest in resolving the outstanding issues, which impacted greatly Renew’s capacity to perform.

“It is disappointing as an investor who brought capital, technology and knowledge to train Bahamians that we continue to be treated in this way. As with other recent attacks on multi-national companies, it can only serve as a warning to potential investors that a lack of maturity exists in dealing with the government after deals are agreed upon.”

Renew Bahamas insisted that it remained in the country and was ready to continue on with the work it had started. It noted a current legally binding agreement in place, saying “we are prepared to come to the table, and meet with the government of the Bahamas to resolve all of the existing issues.”

However, if the government decides it does not wish to continue with Renew, it is expected to have its assets released and/or paid for, and all outstanding monies due to it paid in full.

Yesterday, residents in communities near the site complained of white smoke blanketing their surroundings as a strong, noxious odour seeped inside homes. The smoke has continued to shroud Jubilee Gardens, Gladstone Road and the luxury Baha Mar resort at West Bay Street, in addition  to other areas.

For her part Ms Wilson said of the cause of Saturday’s fire: “We think it started by combustion. Because where the fire happened was an already small compacted area. Maybe a battery or flare or some chemical mixture started it and with the wind at 45 mph it just spread.

“It wasn’t like our guys weren’t there. They were there from the fire started. They would have seen. It was no one around there around that time. We would have been the first ones to say had we seen someone or even if we suspected it.”