I thought the Marianas Variety article of Feb. 12, 2007, “Commercial garbage haulers probed” was excellent reporting.
I doubt that a privately run business would allow over $1 million to remain unpaid and would allow discrepancies to exist for years.
While it is good that the Guam Department of Public Works says that they are “now coordinating closely to reconcile records,” why only now? These problems should have been spotted in the first 30 days and firmly ended.
When we go shopping, we have to pay for our items or services right away either by cash or check or credit/debit card. So why can’t DPW have a debit card system at the Ordot dump? When a commercial hauler comes in, the driver has the company debit card swiped and payment is immediate. If there are no funds available, the driver has to turn the truck around and leave. No money...No service.
As a resident of Guam, I recycle and compost everything possible. Therefore, I only have to deliver my trash once every one or two months. Recently, I delivered my one bag of trash to the Ordot dump. And, I was glad to pay $2.50. BUT, while my trash contained only plastics and synthetic discards, all the other trash that was visible contained a very large amount of unnecessary items. There were tires, TVs, radios, cardboard, glass, ferrous metal, food waste, etc. I doubt that if the dump were privately run, these types of waste would even be allowed. Each and every truck would be inspected. There would be clearly stated rules about what can and what cannot be placed in the Ordot dump.
In my opinion, the Government of Guam should be completely out of the trash hauling and dump business.
Your newspaper article provides compelling reasons for this. So, why do residents and voters continue to put up with such poor management? Perhaps the federal government could handle the Ordot operation for now. Later, a private company could be selected for the operation. This would reduce the workload, maintenance and expenses of Guam DPW. The employees could be placed in other jobs where they are short-staffed. They could be re-trained as necessary. GTA is a great example of how this can work.

PAUL TOBIASON
Chalan Pago, Guam