Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator

Solid waste contractors could shut down the sector as early as Saturday to demand the payment of what they say are outstanding claims amounting to more than $100 million owed to them by the Government.

The Waste Management Association has called an urgent meeting with its members for today to decide on the best course of action.

President of the association, Sheryl Moore, said her members are upset because Local Government Minister Dean Peart has turned down a request to meet with them by the end of the week.

"We were acting in good faith," she said. "We thought that once the claims were verified, the minister would have done the honourable thing and make the arrangements for payment."

Letter written

Mrs. Moore's comments come days after the acting executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Christopher Powell, wrote to the association validating the rate schedule on which it is claiming that the Government owes its members.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Mr. Peart is upset with Mr. Powell because of the letter he wrote to the garbage contractors.

The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre has obtained a copy of the letter, dated June 19, 2007. Mr. Peart has called an important meeting for next Tuesday, at which the issue is expected to be discussed.

Previously, the Government was unsure whether the claims were legitimate because there was no document to use as reference. The original agreements between the Metropolitan Parks and Markets and the individual contractors were destroyed in a fire in 1997.

Efforts to contact Mr. Peart were unsuccessful.

damion.mitchell@gleanerjm.com