The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Canadian recycling manufacturer says it is has been left ‘holding the bag’ over a multi-million materials recycling facility (MRF) sold to the New Providence landfill’s former manager Renew Bahamas, and is now urging the government to bring an end to the ‘back and forth’.

Machinex which is based in Plessisville, Quebec, is described as an industry leader in engineering, manufacturing, and installing Material Recovery Facilities all around the world. According to a press release on the company’s website, the MRF and associated infrastructure was constructed at a total cost of $7 million.

The company said in a statement obtained by Tribune Business: “Machinex for a number of years now, has been trying to have a receivable payment sorted out for the MRF they at the time sold to Renew Bahamas Ltd and their partners the Department of Environmental Health to further the recycling efforts at the Nassau dump. Renew Bahamas made payments on the financing Machinex provided them with but, as well documented, walked away from their contract and financial obligations related to their landfill management agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and themselves.

“For over two years Machinex and their senior management were led to believe and told by Renew’s old management that they were in arbitration with Government to get their differences sorted out. We now know that this is an untruth. Machinex was given sole ownership rights to the unit based at the New Providence Landfill by the courts with jurisdiction in 2016. Machinex through their management and their local consultants have for the last 12 months spoken to all parties involved to come to an amicable solution to this problem but it seems that even with the new Landfill management company in place, and with Machinex having written to the board of NPEP, the ball has been given back to the Ministry of the Environment and Housing, who were appraised as far back as ten months ago, and yet, we are back where we started.”

The company said it is “trying its very hardest” to ensure progress continues at the New Providence Landfill. “We will continue to help if so requested by the new managers, but at the same time the company would like to see resolution brought to this outstanding issue and someone take authority to make the call on what needs done to get this back and forth ended to everyone’s benefit.”

JP Michielsen of Mico Consult, the former Stellar Waste executive in a letter to Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira and Permanent Secretary Deveaux Isaacs on behalf of Machinex noted that when Renew left the landfill and basically defaulted on their contract with the Department of Environmental Health Services, they, in the process also defaulted on their obligations to their vendors.

“Machinex has always done what is right to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, helped Renew at the time to get the recycling going to the benefit of all and are up until now, left holding the bag. We would like to see this entire matter be brought to a positive close, and will await your suggestions to have this settled in an amicable way, one that works for all parties involved,” Michielsen stated.