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People’s Court Versus Ministry Of The Environment, We Want To Know…

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Minister Denis Lowe of the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Drainage

The government recently announced construction of a waste-to-energy plant; a leachate plant and an administration building for the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA)  at Vaucluse, St. Thomas. BU welcomes this development at a time when the Mangrove Landfill is operating at near capacity, and the Greenland Landfill will have to be converted to serve another purpose. Water and solid waste management should have been more of a priority over the years.

In the interest of seeking the transparency which has been promised by the government of Barbados, BU tables the following questions regarding the ‘upkeep’ of the SSA engineer and family listed in the bid document for the project.

  1. 4 Wheel Drive Vehicle of specific make and model (includes provision for gas)
  2. 2 bedroom house (of specific square footage)
  3. Specific furniture requirements
  4. 1 portable barbecue, area rugs, fresh linens, security systems and much more

The requirement is for the 20 year duration of the project, $100.00 per diem allowance for the engineer and assistant.  All to be approved by the engineer.

A fertile ground for corruption maybe? Tell the PEOPLE this is not true!

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15 responses to “People’s Court Versus Ministry Of The Environment, We Want To Know…”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    BU could not do what we do without the help of the BU family and others. The BU household appreciates it very much.

  2. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    The whole substance of the above thread is spectacularly lost in a hodgepodgish mire of near farcical bloggage.

    A look at page 44 of the Barbados Advocate Newspaper of today, Friday, 9 July, 2010, and a perusal of an advertisement on the said page of this newspaper would indicate that the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) is currently inviting bids from interested parties for the designing, building, financing, operating and transfering of a leachate and LIQUID waste treatment facility.

    The advertisement goes on to say that the project is comprised of the following services and works:

    i) the preparation of detailed design drawings and technical specifications for a proposed leachate and LIQUID waste treatment facility with a capacity of approximately 400 m3 per day in accordance with international standardsand meeting the specified Environmental Protection Standards for effluent quality

    ii) the construction of the new leachate and LIQUID wastes treatment facility including all asssociated infrastruture

    iii) the operation and maintenance of the new leachate and LIQUID wastes treatment facility

    Furthermore, at item 5, on the said advertisement, it states that “Bidders Meeting and pre-bid site visit ( the advertisement does not however say where the facility is to be built ) is scheduled for August 25, 2010, commencing at 10.00 am for the purpose of interested bidder’s inspection of the site.”

    Now, let us deal with the inelegant and inauspicious crux of the above lead thread, and without the opportunity of seeing the author of the thread letting readers of this blog know what the prescribed requirements are ( NOT JUST A FEW) as listed in the bid document, and ask the question if the bid document is something that is in every regard detail cast in stone?

    And ask the author if he or she knows how the bidding process for a public contract of this nature goes?

    For, the author might just be seeking to stir up debate on this blog on subjects – transparency, accountability, integrity corruption – that rankle so many in Barbados, but which at the same time have been related to esp. government ministerial scandals and affairs, that have NOT been satisfactorily dealt with – IRONICALY ENOUGH – by the same damned wretched DLP and BLP Governments over the years under which they would have occurred or would have been inspired by.

    Notwithstanding that approach, however, to do so at this time on this blog where there is no reason to really do so, based on what is reproduced in numbered items in the above thread, and with a little anxiety to spread, is for the author to attempt to take away from the fact that what is being asked for in the bid document to be provided to the person who will become the engineer, his family and assistant, is just BARELY ADEQUATE.

    And why should an engineer and his or her assistant at such a facility NOT get a little more?

    What about heatlh insurance perks?

    “Free” medical treatment?

    So, clearly there is no relationship between what is being publicly openly adequately asked for in those regards and in which the process of bidding is competitive – and the possibility of corruption being in there.

    None what so ever???

    What a rotten red herring!!!!

    What the author needed to do was to have focussed on are, et al:

    1) the fact as to who or which business which consortium would ended up getting the contract for the construction and such like of this facility – if any of the Williams brothers or their connections;

    2) the history the legal history of the winning contractor;

    3) If there is any likelihood of there being a financial business relationship between the winning contractor, any sub-contractors and someone some group in the government/at the SSA;

    4) that this BOT arrangement might be another financial disaster for masses and middle classes of this country given what has happened with the DODDS Prison;

    5) that the BOT or BOLT arrangement is NOT the best arrangement for the government to enter into concerning the development of certain infrastructural projects of this sort and others and that the BOT or BOLT; and,

    6) That the TAXATION system is the most corrupt system right now in the country.

    So, Down with the Damned DLP and the Blasted BLP!!!!

    PDC

  3. David Avatar
    David

    @PDC

    Were you able to procure a copy of the bid document? The going price is $500.00.

    As you know dealing with a matter like this is not very sexy compared to say why does the PM not disclosed more particulars about his ailment. BU is therefore forced to present the message we want by sometimes being creative :-).

    Thanks for your input.

  4. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    It would be quite normal on a large project like this, potentially built by an international contractor and watched over by international consultants who have done this type of project before, for the bid to include accomodation and car etc., for the engineer in charge of the project.

    This would be for the period of construction only, so if its for 20 years, that’s weird.

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Here is the invitation to bid ad ad as it appeared in the advocate today.

  6. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @David et al.

    Please additionally note point #10 (ten): “All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the amount of BDS $ 500,000 or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.

    If this isn’t what is known as a “Directed” Invitation, I don’t know what is….

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    Thanks meant to mention that as well but listen, does the average Bajan care about this kind of thing?

    Bear in mind it is the same Bajan who cried blue murder under the previous government when major projects were not tendered for – read contravening the financial rules.

  8. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    You should do some checking on the hazardous substances that a waste to energy plant is rumoured to emit. It’s basically a rubbish incinerator and burning can produce nasty things like dioxins. It was dioxin that caused all the deaths in the accident at Bhopal.

    It seems the decision has been made to build the plant. Presumably the public consultation comes later.

  9. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @BU.David: “Thanks meant to mention that as well but listen, does the average Bajan care about this kind of thing?

    But, with respect to all, what about the above average Bajan?

    Or are they too busy taking advantage of the below average Bajan…?

  10. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    Rumours unless scotched early can cause concern, see Points to Ponder thread.

    Dioxins are destroyed by the high temp (>800C) in a modern waste to steam combustion plant.

    Much more dangerous is the burning of cable, to the copper strippers of St Lucy.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    The average Bajan represents the mass populace and if manipulated by the directorate, what?

  12. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @David: “The average Bajan represents the mass populace and if manipulated by the directorate, what?

    My following might come across as pedantic. This is not my intent…

    Most western children learn the games of Checkers and Chess from fairly early ages. These games can only be played by two parties.

    The Chinese invented, and the Japanese adopted as their national game, the board game of Go.

    Although usually played between only two players, the game of Go can actually be played by three, four or many players (each with a different coloured set of stones).

    I have slowly realized, in my later years, that politics is similar. While usually played only between two sides, more than two can play; sometimes with interesting results….

  13. ac Avatar
    ac

    The average bajan would only be concern when more is said in the media on such matters and until such would continue to be manipulated by the powers that be. Change comes with knowledge via education and it is apparent that most of us lack the knoweldge and understanding to deal with these issues. What a pity!

  14. Bosun Avatar
    Bosun

    I wonder if Al Barrack will be making a bid. But why couldn’t the Government, past and/or present administration enter into a B.O.T (Build Operate Transfer) arrangement with Al Barrack in relation to the Warren Dreambox Office Complex

  15. David Avatar
    David

    Let us survey the politics of two decisions 1) to establish a pilot wind farm at Lamberts St.Lucy 2) to establish a waste disposal facility at Vacluse St. Thomas.

    The EIS has taken eons to be approved in the case of the Wind Farm not so the waste disposal facility. Both will have to be located close to residents which should be a concern given environmental consideration.

    Where is the consistency by government and Barbadians on the two issues.

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