BELIZE CITY MAYOR AND COUNCILORS MEET WITH FINANCIAL ADVISORS

August 24, 2006

Belize City Mayor and her Councilors met last evening with financial advisors of her party to further discuss City Hall’s financial burdens and their problems in meeting the payments for sanitation contracts.  We asked Mayor Moya what the gathering came up with.

Zenaida Moya: Belize City Mayor    

“The sanitation contract was definitely one of the key issues that we looked at and we know that we have to deal with this matter in a sensitive light fully understanding that it is something that we inherited.  What we found out is that we’re really, really straining ourselves as a council because whilst we’re trying to ensure that we make payments at least the little money that we have that comes additional to the payments of our own workers and the basic utility bills and fuel bills.  The amount that we do have to try on a portion to these different contractors just to simply be operating in that manner is not sustainable.  We refused the projective revenues and the areas where we would be looking at to ensure increase revenues and we also looked at the expenditure side with our view to continue to ensure cross cutting measures.  Quite shortly Marian, the council will be making a position informing the public as to what direction and what decision we have taken as it pertains to the sanitation contracts.”  

Marian Ali: Love FM

“Ok you’ve heard the concerns put forth too by the Mr. Marin from S.E.L. and that based on what they’re collecting and breaking it down to us he is saying that it is not feasible to them either. They can’t meet the payments of all their staff even with the calculations that your council made of the $175 per head.  S o come tomorrow, tomorrow being Friday, payday for these people, how does it look?” 

Zenaida Moya: Belize City Mayor       

“Marian, definitely we will be paying something. I think either today or tomorrow to these companies.” 

We asked Mayor Moya her views on Rupert Marin’s concerns from Sanitation Enterprises Limited that the amounts the Council is paying cannot pay all his staff.                

Zenaida Moya: Belize City Mayor     

“We’ve been trying to pay Mr. Marin in a very fair manner I must say and we will continue to do so.  We cannot make full payment, the full payment of the contract right now, I mean the weekly payments, we cannot make payments on that so what we’ve been trying to do is at least meet payments as it pertains to the number of workers he has.  Whatever he wants to say in terms of the how many of workers he has or what amount is being paid to these workers, we are basing it on the information we have as to how many workers he has and what amount are paid to these workers.  I will not get into anything further than that but the state we’re trying to ensure that whatever monies we pay, it can cover the workers because we cannot pay anything extra, we cannot pay anything further than what we’re paying right now.” 

Mayor Moya also warns those companies that have been collecting part payments and still not collecting garbage.  

Zenaida Moya: Belize City Mayor

“I just want to note though that I have been informed that one of the companies does not have any of its workers out there and to simply have the worker go and sign in and walk out back and you are not providing any services to the residents of Belize City. All the garbage is being left beside the streets the poor residence are calling our office left right and center stating that their area is dirty and garbage is not being collected on time. So whether it is the person who has to collect the garbage you need to ensure that they actually collect the garbage and take it away and persons who are suppose to actually pick up the garbage clean the drain whatever they need to continue doing their work. You know unless you provide your service this council really trying its best to ensure that we make payments to any contractors when they don’t have their people out there working, this council has to look into that.” 

Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya.

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