Previous Story
No delay seen in replacing landfill contractor
|
Posted on Mar 12 2006
The Fitial administration expects no delay in finding a replacement for the Marpi landfill contractor that the government dismissed recently.
Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez said Friday that the Department of Public Works has drafted a new request for proposals for the landfill operation.
“I don’t anticipate a long time of delay. It is also my understanding that Public Works will have adequate time and resources to continue with the program themselves until we hire a new contractor,” Villagomez.
The new administration has terminated the $9.9 million contract signed by its predecessor with Pacific Drilling-Saipan Waste Management for the operation of the Marpi landfill.
Greg Apa, president of the contracting company, said he received the termination notice on March 7 and had the company’s equipment removed from the site late last week.
Apa, who appeared at the governor’s weekly press conference Friday, said that he had sent several letters to the administration offering help with the transition. But he never got a response.
“Based on our discussion, DPW is capable to do the transition. There won’t be a long period of delay. There’s no reason why the RFP should not be out in the next three weeks or so,” Villagomez said.
Public Works Secretary Jose Demapan said the department has hired a new contractor to provide emergency services at the Marpi landfill. The name of the company was not disclosed.
The Babauta administration signed the contract with Pacific Drilling on Feb.12, 2003. The deal called for an annual payment of $1.9 million to the contractor for a period of five years.
The contract included a provision allowing the CNMI government to terminate the contract without having to cite a reason for doing so.
The administration said the cost of the contract was too expensive and ran in contrast with its austerity policy.
