It was tight pinch, but the majority of Belize City's sanitation workers got paid today, or at least part payment. Today Mayor Zenaida Moya told us that CITCO has paid Waste Control over $15,000, Belize Maintenance Limited got $15,900, and SEL got $35,000. Moya says the money came as part of City Council directing money from the various revenue departments in the council to come up with the finances.
And while some money is being paid out, BML's Lawrence Ellis this afternoon told us that he is still unable to have work crews back at work in full capacity. He did undertake to have a small crew out in the streets to do some clean up. The story is different for SEL owner Rupert Marin who today told us that his company is still working to full capacity even though again they, cannot meet the full payment for employees.
Rupert Marin, SEL
“Alfonso our operating expenses are high. $48,000 a week in salaries and you will send me $20,000? So what must I do? We can’t put up with this anymore. We will put something in motion. They need to talk to us Monday and let us know what is their intent. They won’t shut us down next week for sure but Monday we will be in a better position to advise the council what is our next thing.
We can’t just stop work because if we stop working for a week it won’t be good. We have 240 people working. We have to look after their welfare. They are looking after me for assist them to protect their jobs. I can’t walk away from it right right now. I have told them if they have a problem I can move away. I am willing to bargain away from this headache and they can take it over but they owe me as I showed you $1.7 million now and counting.”
Alfonso Noble,
Mr. Marin do you think that this city hall not wanting to pay you, as far as you see it, is part of an effort to frustrate your company into folding?
Rupert Marin,
“Of course that is by design. I showed you the memorandum of understanding. They gave us thirty three people because that would have put them in a better financial position to sustain the contracts because they were satisfied then that they were getting value for money. How come now it is not value for money. Why now do they want 50% and it is non-negotiable. They don’t want us there. If I am the problem, like I said, I am willing to walk away but remember those 240 people. This is not goodwill again, this is by design and the other company falls right into the trap and they didn’t go out and now they have a hard time to get back up and running.”
Alfonso Noble,
How long can you sustain your company without any significant input from the council or from them meeting their end of the bargain?
Rupert Marin,
“Alfonso if their intention is to squeeze us until we are full, we have enough time to give them notice right now. They breached, not us. I didn’t breach today, I didn’t breach yesterday. Since this council took office it is $700,000 they owe. After June 1st you told me you couldn’t sustain the contract and now you will come and tell me to give back 50%. So 50% of what? 240 people so 120 people got throw through the door. You will tell me that John Public will stop drop 50% of the paper on the street and grass will stop grow 50%. Now man. This thing needs to be looked at properly. Not just because of our political beliefs we will strangle those 240 people out there. As I said, if I am your problem get rid of me. It is easy. We have a price.”
Marin says his crews will continue to work until as long as they can afford to.
