CABINET NOTES:
The Cabinet and a team from the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) examined various challenges that prevent the organization from performing as efficiently as is expected.
As one of the government agencies responsible for sanitation and beautification, the NSWMA is critical to the health and wellness of our people. There is therefore a need for such an important entity to function at an optimal level.
A review by the Board of the NSWMA discovered certain irregularities regarding the payment of service providers, inclusive of some contactors being paid by other Ministries and the NSWMA at the same time for the same service.
Cabinet has therefore asked for a comprehensive examination of the NSWMA’s contracting arrangements in order to ensure that the agency is achieving its mandate to provide critical services to the nation.
Cabinet has also asked the Ministry of Finance to assist in streamlining the arrangements for reducing arrears to service providers with the aim eliminating any superfluous service engagements also to coordinate activities for waste management with other related government agencies, inclusive of St. John’s Development Corporation and the Central Board of Health.
A number of measures have been identified to bring the NSWMA back to a sustainable position. Inter alia:
All service providers will be required to register with the Inland Revenue Department, the Medical Benefits Scheme, Social Security Board, and the Board of Education. All statutory deductions owed to these agencies will be deducted from the amounts owed to service providers.
The NSWMA is to put measures in place to collect all outstanding tipping fees for use of the landfill.
- Three additional trucks are to be purchased to augment garbage collection.
The office of the Financial Secretary will engage in discussions with the NSWMA to further identify shortcomings in its operations and to discuss ways in which the agency can become more efficient.
A report is to be submitted to the Cabinet in two weeks.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
My first thoughts are, WHATEVER. You think you can stamp out corruption of public servants. If you want to do that, then be prepared to lose the next general election. Cause corruption is imbedded in Antiguan and Barbudan culture. People see it as normal to use their position to earn an extra dollar on the job and with the assets of government. Contractors know the game. Just include some for the public servant in your invoice. The PM when he first came to office told us about the many business men from Syrian and Lebanese descendant that he had to run out of his office. And they did so because it was the norm. the contract from Pringle for collecting death dogs have been brought to light. And do you think anything will be done about this? Hell no. This is only a name and shame exercise. But they will waste no time or money to prosecute him. So that is where this ends.
Comments are closed.