VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr. has defended his ministry’s handling of several major public concerns, including the solid waste tender, district cleaning contracts, road repairs, permit backlogs, and landfill operations.
Speaking in Parliament, the Minister said haulers were given clarification after confusion between district cleaning contracts and solid waste contracts. He also apologized again for communication issues connected to the failed waste tender and thanked bidders for their effort.
Gumbs said some bidders were disqualified for issues including unsigned documents, missing SZV registration, outdated rate forms, missing business licenses, or licenses that did not include waste collection. He said future tenders may use a simplified declaration form to reduce paperwork challenges.
On road repairs, the Minister said several roads have received work between 2020 and 2026, and that road maintenance funding has been affected by delayed budget approvals.
He also acknowledged long-standing building permit backlogs, saying VROMI has issued permits dating as far back as 2015 and is working on digitalizing the process.
On waste management, Gumbs said the Emergency Debris Management Project is scheduled to end in December 2026, but an in-principle agreement could extend the Trust Fund for that project to 2033.
He said the planned Waste Authority may first be set up inside Government in 2026, before later becoming an independent structure.