PHILIPSBURG:--- SMN News learnt that several contractors lost their garbage contract due to the high cost these contractors submitted for the bidding process. According to information provided to SMN News one of the garbage collectors that lost their contract is Clean St. Maarten. During the last 5 years Clean St. Maarten have been collecting NAf.19M per year for garbage collection, that is clearly indicated in the budget of the last years, yet the streets of St. Maarten are filled with garbage and at times weeks goes by and garbage are not collected in certain areas.
The source said one contractor managed to secure four contracts, since their bids was the lowest but that contractor agreed with the department of VROMI to give one of their contracts to James Richardson, brother of MP Lloyd Richardson who won the contract which is the garbage collection for Philipsburg area.
On Wednesday SMN News asked the Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers to inform us who are the contractors that won the bids for garbage collection which has to go into effect as of April 1st 2016. Minister Meyers said he does not know who won the bids because the process is not yet finalized. He further stated that he does not know where SMN News got their information from but he as Minister does not have the final advice since the selection process is not fully completed. The Minister said some 9 companies submitted bids and the evaluation process is ongoing while discussions are also taking place with the contractors.
The Minister said he did see a draft but the final version he did not get as yet therefore he is not aware as to which companies were awarded contracts.
Meyers said that whenever he gets that final advice he still has to take it to the Council of Ministers for their approval.
SMN News reminded the Minister that a press release was sent out to say Robelto and Sons was awarded a contract and besides thorough investigations, the press release sent by DCOMM provided confirmation as to who already won a bid. Prime Minister Marlin then indicated that Robelto and Sons won the contract for the maintenance of the landfill and not for the collection of garbage, Marlin said up to now it is not on the agenda for the council of ministers to take a decision on the awarding of the garbage contracts.
Minister of VROMI tightlipped as to who won garbage contracts --- Naf19M paid per year for the last 5 years to Clean St. Maarten for garbage collection.
