Port Residents Say Garbage Truck Scarce in their Area  

City Hall is once again grappling with a familiar seasonal issue that has plagued them for over two decades. During these slow collection months, their cash flow takes a hit, making it tough to meet their payments. Belize Waste Control has been accused of only picking up some of the garbage from certain streets. It has been reported elsewhere that the Belize City Council owes the company over three months’ worth of garbage collection fees, totaling more than eight hundred thousand dollars. Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde mentioned on Friday that the government might need to step in and mediate between the parties to find a solution. Meanwhile, attorneys for Belize Waste Control, Courtenay Coye LLP, were expected to file a lawsuit against City Hall if the payments weren’t made today. Unfortunately, none of the parties were available for an interview, but Marion Ali has more on the story.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Today, we noticed a troubling sight on the southside of Belize City – overflowing garbage drums, especially on the streets tucked behind the main roads. While most residents were hesitant to speak openly, two men from the Freedom Street area in Port Loyola shared off-camera that the garbage hadn’t been collected at all last week.

 

Voice of: Port Loyola Resident #1

“Dehn barely come pick up garbage. I nuh know weh di happen.”

 

Marion Ali

“I’m seeing the garbage in the Freedom Street area is overflowing for many of the residents. When was the last time you saw the dirt truck come?”

 

Voice of: Port Loyola Resident #1

“The last time I see dehn da bout two weeks now. And sometimes I hear them but ih look like dehn nuh come certain areas, nuh.”

 

The second Port resident said he lives around the lane on Central American Boulevard and his garbage has been there for a week as well.

 

Voice of: Port Loyola Resident #2

“Once dehn left it and dehn nuh come the garbage become wa problem and the animals tear them apart and ih deh over the street. Soh ih end up like wa hazzard, you know?”

 

We reached out to Belize Waste Control and spoke with a manager who assured us they are doing their best with the resources available. He denied missing any scheduled garbage collections last week and mentioned that the company is working with the Belize City Council to resolve the issue. This isn’t the first time City Hall has faced this challenge during the slow season; it’s been a recurring problem for at least twenty years. While a previous mayor proposed a garbage collection fee, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde does not support this idea. We asked some City residents what they thought about the introduction of a garbage collection fee to help solve the problem.

 

Belize City Resident #1

“There should be.”

 

Marion Ali

“Why do you think so?”

 

Belize City Resident #1

“Well, because if they got a garbage collection fee, it’s going to take some of the pressure from the government – I mean City Council because City Council is paying for them to pick it up.”

 

Belize City Resident #2

“If we never pay before, we ever, no, we never used to pay for it, none at all, so I guess why should we pay now?  So my answer is no.”

 

Belize City Resident #3

“No. They done di get paid for that, so weh we have to pay for it?”

 

Marion Ali

“But the Council might have problems at times to meet the garbage collection bill, so now, some are suggesting that we pay a garbage collection fee.”

 

Belize City Resident #3

“Well, if we have to do that, then that’s that. We have to pay it.”

 

Belize City Resident #4

“There are some people that could afford it. But there are people that cannot afford it.”

 

Marion Ali

“But how do we determine who can and cannot afford it?”

 

Belize City Resident #4

“That is the thing. It’s something that the government have to do.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.