The Bahamas still has more than $6 million to pay on the $33.5 million Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan for solid waste management, and in a press statement detailing accusations of millions wasted in connection with the loan and similar projects, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney yesterday demanded that the administration "come clean" on the spending connected with supposed reforms at the New Providence landfill.
He charged that despite "overwhelming evidence", no government official, nor any other individual or entity, has been made to answer for the failed execution of plans, and demanded that the government "come clean about the wasted millions allocated for reforms at the city dump".
"Show us the money! We as Bahamians have a right to know," he said.
McCartney pointed to the decades of potential exposure of residents in the vicinity of the facility to toxins linked to respiratory issues, heartbeat irregularities and irritation to eyes, nose and throat in the short term as well as liver disease, kidney disease "and even cancer in the long term".
"After years of waiting, watching, agitating and hoping, however, Bahamians have been met with inaction and most recently accusations of being unpatriotic. This PLP administration would have us believe that the issues at the New Providence landfill are beyond their control, that they lack the resources and funding to adequately address the problem in a way that could bring about real relief to residents in and around the area, however that is absolutely false," he argued.
The DNA leader recalled that between 1994 and 1999 the IDB approved four separate grants to fund four solid waste management efforts in The Bahamas.
Projects
The IDB website shows the grant of $750,000 for feasibility studies for solid waste management. The project is listed as completed, with $583,226 disbursed to date and $16,774 listed as cancelled.
Then there was a loan in 1997 of $800,000 for solid waste management. That project is also listed as completed, with $800,000 disbursed to date, $800,000 repaid and IDB income of $98,472 posted. The same year there was a feasibility solid waste management project technical cooperation grant of $100,000.
And on February 17, 1999, the IDB approved a $33.5 million loan for solid waste management, designed to support government programs to improve solid waste management in New Providence and some of the Family Islands. The components anticipated included institutional strengthening and regulatory adjustments; priority investments for disposal facilities; public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of programs to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste. The project is listed as complete.
According to the IDB, $21,810,254 has been disbursed to date, with $15,807,801 repaid and $6,002,453 outstanding. The bank cancelled $1,689,746 and listed collected income of $10,348,398 on the loan.
The IDB lists no other projects in The Bahamas for solid waste management.
Show us the money
McCartney asserted that those plans, if executed at that time, could have provided real and sustained relief to thousands of families currently impacted by persistent fires at the city dump.
"In fact, such plans could have revolutionized local strategies for waste disposal and management, bringing this country more in line with first world practices. The question is why weren't they? Why, with the clear backing and financial support provided by the IDB and monies the government previously invested, were these plans never executed? And where have the millions invested disappeared?"
He said a report tabled by the Public Accounts Committee at the end of the Ingraham administration detailed possible fraud and overpayments in connection with the proposed projects and as a result of what Auditor General Terrance Bastian called a complete breakdown of internal controls at the Department of Environmental Health Services. That very report, he reiterated, showed a great disparity in what should have been paid out as part of that contract and what was actually paid out.
"Even in the face of such overwhelming evidence, however, no government officials or any other individuals or entities have been made to answer for the failed execution of those plans and once again the government has remained silent. The Democratic National Alliance demands that the government come clean about the wasted millions allocated for reforms at the city dump. Show us the money! We as Bahamians have a right to know," he said, calling for the prosecution of anyone guilty of theft in connection with the project.
K. Quincy Parker
Guardian Business Editor
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