On Tuesday you saw Mayor Bernard Wagner lament the City's inability to
pay its mounting garbage collection bill - which stands at 1.2 million
dollars and counting. That money is owed to Belize West Control, the
city's sanitation contractor.
And while the Mayor seemed to throw up his hands in resignation, the
councillor responsible for sanitation, Micah Goodin, appeared on Sun Up
on 7 this morning to say that the only hope now is a G.O.B. bailout:
Micah Goodin - City Councillor
"I think the only thing that can really save us right now in the interim is
a bailout from the government of Belize. I think in the absence of that
there is absolutely nothing we can do because the finances are just not
there. It's not like we have this large amount of money sitting in a bank
account somewhere and we're just playing hardball. That's not the case. I
think we really need a financial bailout but while we get that or while we
wait for that we have to start considering new revenue streams. We are
already starting the discussions about the garbage tax that is something we
raised in the last thing in the council but again that is going to require
some level of legislation, we have to look at the legislation, we have to
do consultations and that sort of thing before we can even get there. So
that's whats on the table for now."
Reporter
"And so why hasn't there been political will to put the garbage tax in
Belize City?"
Micah Goodin
"I think the previous Mayor Darrell Bradley he tried it but during the
consultation I think the way they presented it residents rejected it.
And I feel like they did not proceed with it because they feared people
would have affected them in the elections, politicians exist to win
elections and whenever you tax people, whenever you bring these charges
people and the public they are a bit, they want you sideways, whenever
you go into somebody pocket, that's not a good thing for a politician.
I think we'll be met with a lot of resistance, especially because it is
the time of Covid and the middle class has become poor and the poor
people have become poorer and so we are going to be met with a lot of
resistance because people really can't afford it. As it is, people are
having a challenge to meet the property taxes and so how can we then go
and pin on this garbage tax but it is something for us to consider, it
is something for us to consult with them. I also believe that we have
to look at the other strategies, the other alternatives, the head tax,
the municipal lottery, these things will be able to improve our
financial situation so I think the strategy going forward has to be all
encompassing; it can't just be about garbage tax. We have to make all
the opportunities available and explore them."
We're told that the Mayor will meet with the Financial Secretary
tomorrow to try and see how Central Government can help to cover those
arrears.
We note that while the council says garbage collection is down to 2
days a week - Belize Waste Control flatly rejects that. They say they
are still picking up garbage four days a week - in limited circulation
due to the city's non payment. They insist on this 4 day continuity as
the central requirement of their contract - which means that come end
of business on Friday - City Hall will owe them another 60 grand for
what will be 21 weeks of unpaid garbage collection.
Channel 7
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