HAMILTON, Bermuda – Public Works Minister David Burch on Wednesday, ordered an island-wide garbage collection to clear streets and pavements of trash that piled up in the wake of industrial action and vehicle breakdowns.
Burch also announced that starting next Monday garbage will be collected only once a week, rather than twice, for a 10-week period.
“This time will allow us to conduct a full assessment of the trucks that are serviceable, conduct extensive repairs, complete the TCD (Transport Control Department) relicensing process and return a larger number into the operational fleet,” Burch told reporters at a news conference.
He said five new garbage trucks, valued at US$90 000 each would be bought but they would not arrive on the island until November.
Burch said Wednesday’s “island-wide blitz” would “clear all the garbage from every neighbourhood”.
He added that every truck in the ministry would be used.
Burch said protest action in the form of a work-to-rule taken by garbage collectors, ended last week and employees were back to working overtime to try to keep pace with pick-ups.
“The net result of that is still an unsatisfactory state of affairs as we are unable to fully complete designated collection in any one day.”
Chris Furbert, president of the powerful Bermuda Industrial Union, previously said the industrial action was taken amid worker concerns about the lack of staffing and trash trucks.
Burch dismissed the suggestion that the action was taken by workers over the failure to be paid for overtime.
“There’s no truth to that at all, as far as I am aware.
“If they are not being paid for overtime I’d like to know where the money’s going.”
Burch described the island’s garbage collectors as “dedicated and committed workers” who took pride in their jobs under some “very trying circumstances” – “They do a good job and I will not tolerate any abuse directed at them,” the Public Works Minister said.
He revealed that interviews are being conducted for five additional waste collectors – hires that were approved last year after the opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) won July’s general election but never made.
He expected the positions to be filled before February 23.
He said knuckles had been “rapped” over the failure to fill the posts.
“Internally, within the ministry, I have voiced my displeasure to those people who did not bring it to my attention that three months in, they’re still waiting from approval from somewhere else.
“I think it’s fair to say that I don’t think that will be happening again.”
The PLP introduced twice-weekly garbage collections during its first term in office. (CMC)
