Contracts signed for landfills in Regions 5, 6

Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker on Friday signed off on a contract for Advanced Environment Solution to develop a landfill site at Zorg-en-Hoop, Region Five and another in New Amsterdam, Region Six, the Government Information Agency reported on Friday.

The signing took place in the boardroom of the Ministry of Local Government, Kingston.
Advanced Environment Solution has been given a 10-year lease to both sites and will charge $300 a barrel for disposal at both locations.

Zaheera Osman (second from right) of Advanced Environmental Solutions signs the agreements. Looking on is Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker (fourth from left) , Permanent Secretary Collin Croal (second from left) and Regional Five and Six officials. (GINA photo)

GINA said that there were also agreements between the ministry and the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC) as to the roles of the RDCs and the ministry in the development of the sites. The other two contracts were between the contractor and the regions. These had to do with the solid waste contractor’s lease of the lands for the development of the site.

GINA said that the Ministry had earlier this year moved to open landfills outside of Region Four to address solid waste disposal in the regions. The Ministry has since identified and awarded contracts for the development and management of all the identified sites, GINA said, excluding the one in Region Eight which is  awaiting approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The contractors are to begin development of the sites between January 2 and February 1, 2013, GINA said.