Govt. Cancels Waste Disposal Bids, to Set up Temporary Dump in Akkar despite Hizbullah, FPM Withdrawal
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The cabinet agreed on Tuesday to cancel the waste management bids that were presented on Monday, during an extraordinary session that witnessed the withdrawal of Hizbullah, Free Patriotic Movement and Tashnag ministers over what Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil described as a “farce.”
The government agreed to dedicate 100 million dollars to set up a temporary dump in the impoverished northern region of Akkar.
The dump will only be established for three years.
The funds will also be used for development projects in the area.
The waste management bids will be referred once again to the concerned ministerial committee, said Information Minister Ramzi Jreij after the session.
A number of politicians had voiced their rejection of the bids due to their “high prices.”
The decision on the elimination of the bids was taken by 16 ministers, but not through a vote, which is the normal course of action that is usually taken, reported LBCI television.
Jreij explained that the Hizbullah and FPM ministers withdrew from the session after the agreement on Akkar had been reached.
He also revealed that the cabinet's decision to cancel the tenders was based on a recommendation by Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq, who objected to their high prices.
Earlier, Bassil told reporters: "Our withdrawal comes as a result of a farce" on the waste crisis.
Hizbullah's Agriculture Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan also said: "We withdrew from the cabinet session because most parties insist on not listening to our demands of real partnership."
Mashnouq announced on Monday the names of companies that won the bidding to manage trash, describing the process as "transparent" and a "significant achievement."
But the move drew criticism from Speaker Nabih Berri, the FPM and other parties.
Berri, whose AMAL movement is represented in the cabinet, demanded the “reevaluation” or a “total annulment” of the bids, saying the prices were high.
Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is one of the FPM representatives in the government, also told local dailies published on Tuesday that the unsealing of the bids is a “big scandal.”
He compared the waste crisis to a chicken that lays a golden egg.
“If you want to fight it, then you should fight those benefiting from this gold. This is the battle. Either they or the people would win,” he said.
The "You Stink" online group has been holding protests against the trash crisis that erupted when the Naameh landfill south of Beirut was closed on July 17.
But the protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations, turned violent this weekend. A small group of young men, allegedly thugs, repeatedly tried to tear down a barbed wire fence separating the crowds from the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq proposed during the cabinet session to transfer the waste to the northern Akkar district in return for carrying out development projects there.
But Bou Saab said he rejected the proposal.
G.K./M.T.
Y.R.
25 August 2015, 08:55
165
Caporal has paralyzed the Government by forcing to discuss first a mechanism of operation and stopping any decision-making.
25 August 2015, 13:16
124
yes sure that is why rifi said today:
10:22 ريفي من السراي: نتائج المناقصات بملف النفايات لن تمر ولن أوقع.
25 August 2015, 14:47
94
bou saab rejected the proposal not because he cares about the Akkar people but because the proposal was tied with development projects for Akkar.;)
25 August 2015, 10:13
124
The people should set the agenda and demand a solution within a time frame. If they fail then the people force the resignation of ALL of them, and new candidates sort and chosen by the people. You are the people, you are the mob, you are the power.
25 August 2015, 10:29
124
Lebanon will remain-
Constitution should be preserved-
Politicians without exception should be dumped!
25 August 2015, 14:17
92
Zero intellectuals among you. As long as you will produce quantity over quality, you will continue claiming that you are Ma7rumeen.
Ma7rumeen of what? Not of sex and fornication...!!!
25 August 2015, 14:55
83
real partnership?
real hypocrisy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmZn5BLfPHk
25 August 2015, 14:58
83
They are doing as expected. The garbage crisis for the people is seen as opportunity for profit by the political class. That they fight is not over the rights of the people, but over whether their partisans are getting a fair share of the "golden egg" that is the acceptance of the tender to dispose of the garbage.
It is well known in Lebanon that a $2.0 million project must bid out at $50.0 million so as to build the project, maybe, but to be sure to pay off the political class.
25 August 2015, 15:03
93
real result of a farce
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/187926
25 August 2015, 15:20
106
here is a classic:
Aoun's Flip Flop - 5 minute Contradiction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZcI6sVDRCY
25 August 2015, 15:17
00
maybe coporal and imbecil will talk the hizb into haveing a landfill in dahyieh
25 August 2015, 16:24
64
complete and utter incompetence by a government born dead. God bless you hakim for saying from the onset this government of contradictions will not be effective.
25 August 2015, 16:34
65
norma, did you find an account for nassrallah? I am sure he has one ;)
25 August 2015, 16:51
20
And I'm assuming all the other ministers and politicians are angels!! It looks like you are just against the FPM, but I hate them all (March 8 and 14). They are all losers!
25 August 2015, 18:09
53
Why shouldn't the PM Salam resign? Who cares about the constitution and government of Lebanon? They have clearly shown that they don't care, by repeatedly breaching it and extending their own terms while providing nothing to the Lebanese people. Let them all resign and let the Lebanese Armed Forces declare a Coup! Organise a new electoral law based on the Boutros commission, and fix other issues that are sectarian hostage like the oil and gas exploration, electricity and water, and then declare a new election in 4-5 years time! Impose strict media conditions that allow for real civil action against lies or defamation and for equal media time for all official parties on all channels and papers!
Finnally, send all Palestinians and Syrians on chartered boats to turkey and saudi arabia or iran! Let them deal with their refugees!
25 August 2015, 19:02
02
Ado brilliant ya genius, and that's how the usual suspects can complete the coup by attacking general Qahwagi when they don't get their way and calling for his resignation because "his term was illegally extended". Keep nursing that Vegemite sandwich and enough with the foolish suggestions, thank you.
25 August 2015, 20:23
00
I guess there is no such thing as conflict of interest in Lebanon for Politicians and Government Employees! in the west an entire government falls for one act of kick back or misappropriate use of funds!
It is the fault of Lebanese people who continuously support their leaders, their sects and go along with the corruption. Next election you should remember that your vote is your say.... Vote wisely
