President Joaquin Balaguer, on his second to last day in the National Palace, granted Santo Domingo mayor Rafael Subervi Bonilla ample powers to cancel the contract between the Dominican government and the Attwoods Dominicana company for the collection of refuse in the capital. Through presidential decree No. 300-96, Dr. Balaguer also gives the city council powers to supervise and intervene in the daily operation of Attwoods “in order to ensure that the terms of the contract are carried out” by the company. The problem of refuse collection and dumping has intensified over the past two months, with the closing of the Duquesa tip in the National District.
Since most communities on the outskirts of Santo Domingo have refused to provide dumping sites for the refuse, rubbish has piled up in the capital at an alarming rate, sparking fears of plagues of rodents and an increase in respiratory ailments, especially in children. In addition, the subsequent burning of rubbish by citizens has produced a rise in the number of common colds and minor breathing problems.
The Attwoods company, originally British but now U.S. owned, which has been under contract with the central government since May of 1992 for the collection of refuse in the capital, has been harshly criticized by both Mayor Subervi and his predecessor, Rafael Corporan de los Santos. Mr. Subervi and the city council will now have direct control over the almost RD$11,000,000 monthly payment to the company, which was previously disbursed directly from the city government.
In reaction to the presidential decree, Dixi Sanitary Services, of which Attwoods is a subsidiary, has sent two lawyers to the D.R. in order to defend the company and challenge the legality of any cancelation of the contract. Attwoods Dominicana, through its president, Abraham Canaan, has insisted that the problem of refuse collection in the capital is not due to its inability to comply with its part of the contract, but the lack of sufficient dumping space.