Trudy Simpson and Tyrone Reid, Staff ReportersAFTER $2 billion in contract breaches and charges of cronyism and corruption, the struggling National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) saga takes a new turn.
The Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport has summoned the Solicitor General to comb through the current contracts to ascertain if they can be legally severed.
"We are in the process of reviewing all contracts to ensure that we get value for money. The Permanent Secretary has already been in touch with the Solicitor General to review some of the contracts to see how best we can come out of some of them, how best we can renegotiate some of them," explained Errol Greene, head of the NSWMA.
He further stated that if the contracts do not have an exit clause, the agency would honour the duration of the contracts. However, Mr. Greene insisted that it could not be business as usual at the state agency. "It is clear. It is evident that we definitely have to change the way things are being done."
Additionally, Mr. Greene, who took on the mantle as head of the solid waste agency on June 20, said a management audit has been commissioned to examine the necessity for some positions within the company.
"There is a possibility (that persons may lose their jobs), I don't know. Some people might be promoted and there might be opportunities for more positions."
The agency has been rocked by a few resignations over the past months. Reports are that four employees quit their position after the NSWMA saga was first brought to light by The Sunday Gleaner in March this year. At least three of the resignations were handed in after damning reports from the Contractor General and Auditor General were tabled in Parliament last week. Sources say more resignations are expected this week.
So far, Richard Patterson, son of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson resigned his post as an information technology consultant on Friday. The director of finance and deputy director of finance have also resigned.
The reports were subsequently handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police for further investigations.
