PLP: ‘Uncollected Trash Becoming A Disgrace’

August 11, 2014

“The uncollected trash that remains a spectacle all over the island is fast becoming a disgrace,” said Senator Diallo Rabain.

“While a government spokesperson has used the weather, and the Cup Match Holiday as an excuse, what the public really needs is for the situation to be solved as soon as possible. Not only is the trash sitting all over the island unsightly, it is also unhygienic.

“It is amazing that we have not heard from Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin in any formal capacity with regard to this situation.

“In 1999, when Minister Gordon Pamplin sat in Opposition as a UBP member, she had the following to say “I don’t believe that the taxpayers of this country expect to put their trash out in the morning and return home from work at 6.30 and 7 p.m. and find it still has not been removed.

“She also commented “This does not leave a good image in the minds of our visitors who often see the roads full with uncollected garbage.”

“Well Minister Gordon Pamplin, the year may now be 2014, and the buck stops with you. The public wants to hear how you and the OBA government will solve this unsightly and unhygienic situation and get Bermuda back to its usual pristine shape during the height of our tourist season,” concluded Senator Rabain.

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  1. Onion says:

    Hey PLP, the same thing happened on your watch.

    • watching says:

      PLP isn’t in power. OBA promised everything better. Seems they sold everyone a bag of …

      • gimme a break says:

        if your PLPA/BIU workers would get to work or even do their jobs or had a teaspoon of pride in their work, this place wouldn’t be a reflection of their attitude to their job.

      • sonso says:

        So what you think the PLP left the OBA with a garden of roses to tend to?

      • Redman says:

        @ watching,

        I for one and many others are happy that the PLP aren’t in power any longer.

        The OBA didn’t promise everything would be better but things sure as h*ll are better already. The PLP sold you a dream and turned it into a nightmare except you and too many are clearly still in la la land.

        • LOL (Original TM*) says:

          Yes it’s almost like battered wife syndrom.

          LOL

    • Joonya says:

      I suppose even the trash smells more during the OBA years..

    • hmmm says:

      A number of times !

    • d says:

      Lol I know right?

    • Raymond Ray says:

      And not just once either :-(

    • Hurricane says:

      @ Onion, what happen to voting for change???

      • mixitup says:

        They voted for comfort not change.

        • LOL (Original TM*) says:

          so you admit people were not doing well under the PLP then?

    • sonso says:

      All i can say is, i am glad Diallo spent a good bit of his morning digging up archives to find what Pat said back in 1999!

    • Samuel L. Jackson says:

      “Well (insert stupid commenter’s name here), the year may now be 2014, and the buck stops with you. The public wants to hear how you and the OBA government will solve this unsightly and unhygienic situation and get Bermuda back to its usual pristine shape during the height of our tourist season,”

      • Redman says:

        @ Samuel L. Jackson,

        The OBA have said how they could solve it but too many don’t like the medicine. Privatize this wasteful (pardon the pun lol) ‘Govt. Service’ and then you will be able to hold the company/staff accountable as this is not just because of Cup Match and weather!!

        In fairness to the staff, I did have a long chat with one of the drivers and he pointed out the stupidity of the Management over the new truck purchases.

        For starters the newer trucks have a wheel base too long which makes it harder to get into our many tight roadways. They also carry smaller loads so there are more trips back to the depo than before; all of which adds more time to collecting trash.

        One guess under who’s watch and expertise these ‘new’ trucks where purchased… yep the PLP. It was one of their ‘accomplishments’ championed by Mr. Scott (Alex’s Beye). LMAO

        Another PLP Duhhh Moment, I understand if you missed it as there have been many.

        • ya right says:

          The politicians don’t analyze the specifications or pick out the trucks mate. That would be done at the department level. To blame the PLP is quite funny. Seems so much people make things political which are not political at all.

          • Redman says:

            @ ya right,

            That’s correct the politicians don’t or shouldn’t be doing that however as I pointed out it was managements blunder or didn’t you read that?.

            The PLP gets mentioned as they championed these purchases as one of their achievements in the run up to the last election but I guess you missed that too! Now go and post your comment about blaming the PLP to all the posters who are blaming the OBA for the current state of affairs, I wont hold my breath… and you’re not my mate :-)

    • fred says:

      Well Diallo Rabain, if you would only spend a little extra affort in reading then you would find an article on this site that addresses your concern and states the following…

      “Public Works On Delay In Garbage Collection

      The Ministry of Public Works said they would like to advise residents that “as a result of the increased garbage stemming from the Cup Match Holiday there has been a delay in garbage collection to residents in both the West End and East End of the Island.” A spokesperson said, “Collection staff are in the process of addressing the…”

      so as you can see, we have heard from the department; you just haven’t comprehended that yet…

      • Amazed says:

        Well Fred, its all well and good to read an article from last week. Cup match is well over and the trash still sits there. I’ve seen numerous trucks driving around but do not see them collecting the garbage off the streets. Serious overtime needs to be done DAILY in order to get this situation under control. More rain is coming!! It appears to be more happening with Govt. workers than “cupmatch” or “rain” being the excuses of the day. Come clean with the people….

    • Kunta says:

      At least O.B.A./ubp are consistent, it’s a backlog on picking up tourist too.
      LMFAO

    • Evie says:

      nah nah nah soöooo they did it why can’t we don’t talk about my party time to grow up now SMDH hahahahaha

    • Bermuda says:

      Exactly! But since it’s on the OBA watch, now it is a super important situation.

    • Fact Finder says:

      Oh my Goodness! Although I agree that this should not be the case and we need to do better, even if it is just a notice from W&E advising us not to put out the trash because they are behind. With that being said, for the PLP to make noise about this is just funny.

      The guys that collect our garbage don’t deserve this. If the W&E guys worked 25% as hard as these guys did imagine what results we would have.

      To the guys that collect my garbage, THANK YOU. You work harder than 99% of us and with little thanks.

    • Jules says:

      The issue is trash period, not just at this time but constantly. how much trash (bikes etc.) is hauled out of the ocean. Gee wonder how that gets there. Or trash on the streets. It is indeed about island pride, why don’t both parties address it.

      Now trash has become politicalised geesh!

  2. aceboy says:

    Time for another march.

  3. somuchless says:

    The plp and the Oba. Two of a kind. Jokers. Everyone talks but no one has a solution.

  4. in the know says:

    Diablo I got two solutions for you

    1. Maybe if the workers were held accountable for lack of performance then they would actually work hard.. or if you fellow union/plc members actually did work that at they are paid for we won’t have this problem.

    2. This is a prime example of why maybe the trash collection needs to be mutualized or outsouce as clearly the workers at present can’t handle the job

    • Concerned says:

      who ordered the smaller much smaller trucks and stop acting like none of this happened during the pLPs time

  5. B says:

    Yup here comes the overtime, Just what they wanted to here….Lol

  6. jt says:

    Privatize.

  7. bermuda bouy says:

    Zane has a lot of empty trucks, get him to help us out….for free. Ha Ha.

  8. Starting point says:

    I agree with Mr. Robain and his calls to privatize this industry. We Bermudians would be far better served by private entrepreneurs servicing various regions vs. these public works folks who don’t work in the rain.

    oh thats right Robain was calling for anything, just trying to make noise for noise sake. But his point is valid, the government is unable to provide a competent service so lets privatize it.

    thanks for the idea Robain lol.

    • Dr.Dread says:

      Go ahead ! – Privatize everything in Bermuda – including the Police ,Prisons, and House of Parliament – call Putin he will help purchase the whole lot!
      Once the OBA begins any further Privatization of any more Govt..Departments it will spell the end of them.
      All hells going to break loose!

      • LOL (Original TM*) says:

        All hell will break loss anyway as we have no money to sustain all those civil servants the only real solution is to curb spending anyway possible and layoffs will have to be made cause the spending cuts will only be a short term band aid.

        LOL thanks PLP your legacy is alive

  9. Give me a break says:

    Cup Match and the weather are pretty good excuses! Instead of pointing fingers, do you have any suggestions?

  10. Love is the only way... says:

    This has been going on for years. Why does everyone pretend like it’s brand new

  11. Truth is killin' me... says:

    I guess they all stink no matter who’s in power…politicians that is!!

  12. Terry says:

    Well well………

    Where are the famous betty furberts on this one………

    Gotta love the new Al Pee Al Pea………

  13. selina says:

    It happens – weather, holidays and even equipment breakdowns. The trash is being picked up. From what I’ve seen it seems only small areas that still had trash by the road over the weekend. The workers are doing the best they can. Thanks guys and ladies out there working hard!

    • Jon says:

      Can we have more people like you please?
      This isn’t a competition. We’re all in this together: people, w&e and yes even the government.
      The workers are doing their best. What are WE doing to help them with OUR problems?

      • Bermuda says:

        Hmm, paying taxes so they can be employed and make a living. Why should we have to pay them twice to do one job? Then next year we will have the same situation at cup match time next year?

  14. Hershey says:

    Government “workers” became so lazy under the previous administration that its virtually impossible to get them to do any work now.

    Would be good to get an update from the Minister though. That is her job.

    • Evie says:

      Be quiet Some people shouldn’t post just stupid stupid things come out SMDH

      • LOL (Original TM*) says:

        I agree so when are you gonna stop posting.

        LOL

  15. Agree with senator Rabain that we are OWED a clear concise and honest answer from the Minister. However I will point out the probable cause ( furlough time and or OT ban ) was a direct result of his parties failure with the economy. None the less I am 60 years old and have been out in many rain showers/squalls etc and I have not melted yet, nor did I rust up even this weekend. My vehicle also manages to work in the rain. So theca weather should NOT be an issue. What is the problem????

  16. BlueFamiliar says:

    In 1999, why was there trash no being picked up? Just curious because I don’t recall.

    At any rate, this isn’t a big deal. A holiday and some miserable weather has slowed things down, they’ll catch up.

    Side note, it’s not ‘all over the island’ the neighbourhoods I travel through too and from work daily are fine.

  17. Guy Carri says:

    Agree it happened on PLP’s watch, but Robain dug up some good quotes to throw at her!!! Let’s face it, she said it, now it’s on her. Face the music. As a side note, I do wonder if it’s W&E’s getting at OBA.

  18. Harry Buttle says:

    Maybe this is by design. Complain about the PRC situation, go away for cupmatch weekend, BIU quietly starts a work to rule campaign, PLP ministers blame the OBA for not running the trash collection properly.

    Long hot summer indeed.

    • Derek Gibbons says:

      The BIU’s idea of working to rule means from go slowly to dead stop. As for the weather over Cup Match, the weather was okay, in fact excellent. And we didn’t get any real rain until yesterday. So what was Whiskey & Eats excuse for not working all week. I never saw a trash truck on the road all week. Did anyone else?

      • gimme a break says:

        W&E = WATCHING AND EARNING. How many people does it take to hold up a sign? 1 and 24 sit down on the lawn during an extended coffee break to watch. No matter what time I roll -it’s always break time.

  19. pressing the flush says:

    “The uncollected trash that remains a spectacle all over the island is fast becoming a disgrace,”

    I agree,it’s time someone removed the remains of the extinct plp.

  20. Lies. Lies says:

    People, people, Diallo is right tho, we need this resolved, come on, im tired of waking up and seeing trash, it’s sad, i took mines tynes bay, but its crazy,lines of cars

  21. Cow Polly says:

    Word of advice Mr Robain……. if you want to focus on what was said in 1999, you would have made your point so much more powerful if you had just repeated what Pat Pamplin said then. Believe me, Pat Pamplin, the OBA and us public would have got it. The fact that you made your statement and then referenced a statement made in 1999 like ‘nanny nanny boo boo’ makes you sound like a nagging housewife and do you really want to sound like a nagging housewife?????

    • Onion says:

      That’s derogatory and offensive. How dare you compare a hardworking housewife with a hypocritical politician.

  22. Tricks are for Kids says:

    To BOTH sides THIS does not even HAVE to be a political issue. ..Are you all serious???….just work on getting the trash collected…stop finding fault with each other and WORK TOGETHER for a change and find a SOLUTION..
    #everythingdoesnothavetobepolitical

  23. Creamy says:

    He went back 15 years to find a quote about trash? That’s kinda weird.

    • Ms. Poli Tician says:

      Researching that far back says one thing, and one thing only – you are not busy enough!

    • bdaboy says:

      It’s the desperation of a sore loser

    • Unbelievable says:

      hahah yeah I thought the same thing too.

      My boy needs something constructive to do.

  24. Mr. Meoff says:

    HOW MANY TIMES DID WE RETURN TO OUR HOMES TO FIND THE TRASH STILL AT OUR GATES TIME AND TIME AGAIN ALL DURING THE PLP. SO NOW WE HAVE ONE INCIDENT AND THE BEST OPPOSITION OUR ISLAND HOME HAS EVER SEEN CRIES FOUL.
    GET A LIFE PLP. YOU WERE NEVER EVER ANY BETTER, PERIOD. ALL WE EVER HEARD WAS DERRICK BURGUESS’S MUMBO JUMBO EXCUSES, BUT THAT WAS OK BECAUSE HE AND CHRIS FURBURT WERE AND STILL ARE BUDDY BUDDY UNION BROTHERS. WHATS THAT SAYING “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
    HIRE ZANE AND HIS YELLOW ROAD WARRIORS TO HELP CLEAN UP OUR GARBAGE. THAT SHOULD BE SEEN AS A HELPFUL PLP CONTRIBUTION.

  25. Unbelievable says:

    I’m annoyed at this problem too. Pretty rich coming from the PLP however.

    One thing I’m sure of is tho….I’m certain the Minister wants this cleaned up. There have been two press releases from Govt in just a week about it but I BET you the Minister can only do so much. I actually have not seen the trash trucks out there at all in the last week. W and E is probably so heavily unionised that I bet they refuse to go out and collect the trash.

  26. Let there be hope says:

    I guess when the trash was not collected under your watch it was okay!

  27. LOL (Original TM*) says:

    Just a thought how do we know that the PLP and unions arent telling their people on the “inside” to cause issues

    LOL

  28. Concerned says:

    I wonder how many other quotes he saw concerning the PLP

  29. rivaldo10 says:

    Politics
    …..over trash. .. gtf out of here …not that serious

    • Jon says:

      Digging for a 15 year old quote about garbage REALLY shows imagination in how to make dumb things a political issue.

    • Dr.Dread says:

      It’s going to be POLITIC’S over everything – right up to the next election – no end in sight!
      it’s Trash Gate this time ! – the opposition Leader will probably make a news conference speech tonight. lol !

  30. Triangle Drifter says:

    Here we go, another reason to privatise trash collection.

    Put it out to tender. Government has the equipment, for now, but a new operator might want to invest in new, more efficient equipment needing fewer people & more efficient people.

    If there are problems with Tynes Bay those people can be replaced too by including the operation of that in the privatisation.

    Buses & sanitation. Two easy ones to privatise & save the public millions.

    • Dr.Dread says:

      Sounds Like you want to privatize every bloody thing – what do you want to privatize next the House of Parliament!!
      or the Bermuda Regiment.– you sound like Dr.Br….n

  31. James Herald says:

    PLP is really scraping the bottom of the trash can to find something to complain about. All they do now is embarrass themselves.

    Very sad to see a once great party in such decline.

  32. Go Gombey!! says:

    THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IS THAT W&E WERE GIVEN LEMON TRUCKS AND DONT HAVE SUFFICIENT PARTS ON ISLAND FOR THEM!!! THESE GUYS MAKE 7:30 AND CAN KNOCK OFF AT 2:30 WITHOUT A LUNCH {THATS THEIR 7 HOUR DAY). OVERTIME IS NEEDED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT!!!!!!

  33. Gilberto says:

    One would have thought that the holiday schedule would have been organized and agreed upon by all stakeholders (I hate that word but it is accurate here) weeks if not months in advance so as to ensure debacles like this do not occur and the public/taxpayers are well served. If not, then shame on all of you. If so, forget the Commission of Inquiry regarding Tuckers Town, we need one into who is messing us around here.

  34. Ex PLP supporter says:

    Would you rather some trash being picked up late or the PLP back in power?

  35. Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

    rubber boots and a rain suit…whats the problem?…if you don’t wanna work in the rain… no pay when it rains…things will change. A private co.will not pay you to stand around while it rains…so if you got your weekly hours with out working each and every one of those hours ….don’t you feel guilty that you’re taking from ME and YOUR GRANNY(who pays taxes for your employment to continue).?

  36. gogo says:

    Here is a thought.

    Why don’t we just try to make less trash? Oh ya, everyone is too f***ing lazy.

  37. tahe out the trash says:

    Please take the PLP out with the trash !!!!

  38. Jamwasea says:

    Ever seen how the trash is collected in the UK or the USA ? One truck, one driver,2 bins, one for trash and one for recycle. Simple! Not 3 men per truck!!

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      You forgot, in most places collected once a week.

      How about trash having to be placed in one dumpster for one truck with one driver to empty? Trash disposal is highly inefficient in Bermuda, made worse by buying the wrong trucks meaning more jobs for the boys.

      Bermuda is not the only place in the world that has small roads needing small trucks.

      • bdaboy says:

        In Toronto trash is collected every two weeks. Green bin composting once a week. Recycling bins every two weeks. The old parts of the city, in the core, have narrow streets. It can be done, but there has to be willingness to cooperate by residents.

  39. Dr.Dread says:

    Now it’s Trash Gate !
    This Trash problem happend several times when the PLP was in power – this is nothing – the problem
    will get fixed .
    PLP – STOP BARKING about every thing – and OBA lets get the Job done.

  40. Movement of Jah People says:

    “Trash “talk from the party that almost ruined Bermuda!