CEO of Stellar Waste to Energy Bahamas Ltd. J.P. Michielsen welcomed the opportunity to discuss financing with Bahamian waste consortium Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG), which is being considered for hire by the government to resolve the challenges at the failing New Providence landfill. However Michielsen disputed the short timeline that was reportedly required of the group to complete key aspects of a possible deal and the remediation of the dumpsite, calling it an "impossible" task.
Michielsen's comments came yesterday amid a revelation by Tribune Business that Prime Minister Perry Christie met on Monday with members of WRDG - comprised of 10 local companies - who were asked to provide a management/business plan for the landfill along with necessary financing "in an extremely short time".
Michielsen admitted that he was aware of the meeting and another meeting that took place last week Friday.
Stellar Waste, the company that proposed to build a $650 million waste-to-energy plant on New Providence, became entangled in a political controversy in 2014, which cast doubt on Stellar's future in The Bahamas.
Up to November 2015, Stellar's principals acknowledged that they had not received government approvals to access the landfill and conduct business, but Stellar's top executive said he does not "have a problem" with the prospective consortium.
"They can come and talk to me. I have all the financing ready," said Michielsen.
"I don't have a problem with these people. At the end of the day, there is so much that could be done."
He insisted that "everyone" in the business of developing renewable energy has financing issues.
Therefore he said WRDG can "knock on my door".
"I know it is the government's job to examine any proposals that are being brought to the table whether it's this one, ours or anyone else," he said.
Michielsen questioned the timeline the government and the group are looking at for remediation of the dumpsite, suggesting necessary landfill studies alone would take at least six months.
He also shared the same concerns of Baha Mar President Graeme Davis over the state of the landfill and how it might affect the experience for guests at Baha Mar.
Davis, who was a guest on the Guardian 96.9 FM radio talk show "The Revolution" on Monday said: "It's a huge concern for us, as it is for many businesses and persons. The last thing we want is a toxic plume of smoke coming over the golf course on the day we open."
He also indicated that smoke from the landfill would impact other hotels in that area as well.
But Michielsen suggested that Davis' concerns would not be addressed anytime soon.
"There is nothing that can be done before Baha Mar opens," he said.
"All of this could have been dealt with three years ago."
He noted that the government contracted Renew Bahamas in 2014 to take over the landfill.
Renew, however, severed its operations with the landfill last year and handed the responsibilities back to the Department of Environmental Health Services.

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