The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A Canadian company has disowned claims levelled by an ex-Bahamas-based consultant against the chief executive of the former New Providence landfill manager.

Machinex, which manufactured and supplied the materials recycling facility still sitting at the landfill, told Tribune Business it had never enjoyed anything other than a cordial and truthful relationship with Renew Bahamas head, Michael Cox.

The company disassociated itself from allegations made against Mr Cox by JP Michielsen, the former Stellar Waste to energy executive, adding that his remarks in a recent report did not represent Machinex’s position and that he was not authorised to speak on its behalf.

“At the time the article was published, Mr Michielsen was not authorised to speak on behalf of Machinex,” the Canadian firm said in its statement to this newspaper. “Last year, Mr Michielsen was mandated to help us understand the local market, since we were not a local company. His mandate ended in March 2019, and from then on he was no longer allowed to speak on behalf of Machinex.

“We wish to distance ourselves from the article in regards to allegations made against Michael Cox. We have always maintained a direct communication with him, and have never pretended there has been any misinformation.”

Renew Bahamas is understood to have kept itself in good standing with many of its suppliers, and is still working through the necessary processes with the Ministry of Environment after the five year public-private partnership (PPP) type contract between them came to an end in October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.

Machinex added: “The only thing we can say is that Machinex has not been paid entirely for the equipment and service provided to Renew in 2015, but we wish to reiterate that we gave them all the support required to operate their sorting system. Therefore, we hope to find an outcome on this matter of unpaid equipment and services very soon.

“As a company which has as their mission to design solutions for a sustainable tomorrow, we find it unfortunate that the Bahamas population is deprived from this sorting facility.”

Tribune Business understands that Renew Bahamas is disputing Machinex’s claim that it is owed money. It is instead alleging that the Canadian firm owes it more money than is due from itself.