Cabinet orders overhaul of subcontracting system at Solid Waste

The Cabinet has ordered an overhaul of the system by which trucks are
subcontracted by the Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).
This as the Cabinet heard reports that there has been much disparity in the manner
in which trucks are subcontracted by the statutory board, with some truck owners
having contracts for as many as ten trucks in some cases.
According to the report, this has led to some truckers with only a single vehicle to
be often overlooked when payments are made, as they seemingly always satisfy the
large contract holders first.
The Cabinet determined that this situation is untenable.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet invited the new Chairman of NSWMA, Michael
Joseph, and the Acting Manager, Stacy Stowe, to report on the successes and
failures of the statutory body, especially the failure to collect garbage from several
rural communities.
“The two officials from NSWMA also explained that there are operators/owners of
trucks that were over-represented; their numbers are being brought in line to fit the
norm. The officials were empowered by Cabinet to begin the process of reducing
the number of trucks by which several owners/operators exceed the reasonable
number. Small and individual truck owners will then be able to receive reasonable
payments each week,” Cabinet spokesman Lionel Max Hurst stated.
It was also explained that the number of NSWMA trucks has been reduced to
three working compactor trucks from a total of eight. However, the mechanics
were able to cannibalize the non-working trucks and put two additional trucks back
on the road.