“My assumption was correct all along!” he added, saying he is directing his blame on those responsible for giving DCM the contract.
DCM submitted a $5.1 million proposal for engine repairs.
Atalig’s bid was $500,000 for manpower services.
“This is more like a sweetheart deal,” he said. “As a result of the wrong contract, we have power outages.”
He noted the delay in the completion of the rehabilitation efforts at the power plant, particularly with engine #7, saying “it’s a reflection” of CUC’s mistake.
According to Atalig, his employees have more experience than the CUC power plant supervisors and the DCM workers.
“Some of them don’t even have experience working in a power plant,” he said.
Moreover, DCM workers are underpaid and are not paid for overtime work, Atalig said, quoting some of his former employees who are now working for DCM.
He said his agency pays between $6 and $7.5 per hour while DCM pays only about $4 or $5.
Of the 20 DCM crewmembers working at the power plant, Atalig said seven or eight of them came from his manpower agency.
“DCM is in default because of mismanagement,” he said.
CUC should replace its plant supervisors with nonresident workers who are more qualified to run power facilities, he added.
“Change the CUC power plant managers and supervisors. Get rid of CUC managers and bring those people who have more experience,” Atalig said.
He added that he is not “sour-graping — I’m basing this [opinion] on facts.”
His company, he added, will submit a new proposal to CUC if the administration will seek new bids.
Variety was unable to get comments from DCM.
