The Ministry of Public Works would like to respond to the opinion piece by Christopher Famous in Thursday’s issue of The Royal Gazette entitled, “Coincidence trash service is underfunded?”

While we appreciate Mr Famous’s efforts to come to some conclusions about the issue of garbage collection in Bermuda, we find many of his conclusions to be false.

Had he contacted the Minister of Public Works [Craig Cannonier] or the permanent secretary, he would have easily obtained answers to his questions.

In what follows we will seek to address each of his points made in the article:

1. Overtime was generously given out to W&E staff to ensure Bermuda was spotless during the recent Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda.

Response: This claim by Mr Famous that overtime was given to workers specifically during the America’s Cup is false.

We have been administering overtime since Mr Cannonier took over as the Minister of Public Works to ensure that the Island’s trash is picked up in a timely and efficient manner.

We have been more than generous with overtime throughout this entire period.

2. Due to early retirement and hiring freezes, there are refuse crew staff shortages of nearly 33 per cent.

Response: This point is somewhat correct. Due to the hiring freeze, we are down on manpower.

3. The smaller Isuzu trucks were ordered by a senior civil servant three to four years ago. They are capable of carrying only four tonnes of garbage, while the older Mack trucks are capable of carrying twice that amount, at eight tonnes. Hence making the smaller trucks and their crews work twice as much.

Response: The tonnage amounts Mr Famous cites are incorrect. The new Isuzu trucks carry three tonnes while the older Mac trucks carry five tonnes. Eight Isuzu trucks were purchased in 2012.

The question Mr Famous should be asking is: why would the previous administration order eights trucks knowing they have less capacity, knowing it would create more labour? Further to that: why would they order eight trucks at the same time, having not tested them to see if they were capable of handling our roads and conditions?

On this point, Mr Cannonier said: “I understand the finance minister’s decision not to allow for the purchase of new trucks as we just bought eight trucks a few years ago. However, that decision does not mean in any way that we seek to privatise.”

4. Most, if not all, of the time the trucks are out of service is due to the ministry refusing to spend money to purchase the necessary parts to repair the vehicles.

Response: This is completely false. Because of the number of breakdowns with these trucks, our staff have become highly efficient in ordering new parts.

Where it used to take sometimes six months between ordering and receiving the parts, it now only takes one week. We never undercut spending for parts.

Another question which should be asked here is: why did the previous government buy trucks without ensuring the proper mechanical training for staff and without also buying the complete diagnostic software needed to analyse the trucks when mechanical problems arise?

5. The ministry has refused to give the W&E mechanical staff the required overtime to ensure the trucks are fixed as needed.

Response: Overtime has been provided. But everyone must be aware that we are under financial instructions and by law we have to stay within certain budgets.

6. The ministry did not provide alternate dump trucks to be used to go out and collect the garbage.

Response: We find this point somewhat curious. If, in fact, Mr Famous did speak to civil servants he would be well aware that it was their choice to not use the dump trucks.

We’ve been in meetings with the unions to rectify the civil servants’ decision to not utilise the dump trucks.

Mr Cannonier said: “It is important that the private sector understand that we have good people doing good work in this section, and I commend those workers for their efforts in striving to keep Bermuda clean. To suggest that we are working to privatise garbage collection is reckless and not founded on factual information; only hearsay.

“Privatisation is a decision which the people of this country will have to make for themselves. I want to make it clear that this Ministry has no intention of privatising trash collection.

“The Sage recommendations were merely recommendations to help us recognise that, as a government, we must be as productive, accountable and as efficient as possible.

“It is imperative that we understand that if we are to swim in the big ocean with the big fish then we must strive for accountability and efficiency within the Civil Service.”