The conflict between the Attwoods Dominicana company and the government over the alleged failure of the former to carry out its part of the RD$10,000,000 contract to collect refuse in Santo Domingo came to a head last week. The central government and the Santo Domingo city council had given Attwoods, a subsidiary of the U.S. Dixi Sanitary Service, until last week to improve its service, under the threat of terminating the contract. The mayor of Santo Domingo, Rafael Subervi, was reported to have met with Jack Casagrande of Dixi Sanitary Services on Tuesday, 1 October, but no details of what was discussed was made public. The 4 October edition of the Listin Diario reported that the central government had decided to hold the monthly payment of RD$10,000,000 to Attwoods until the refuse collection problem was solved. The Administrative Secretary of the Presidency, Diandino Peña, told the newspaper that he was waiting for a report from the mayor on the performance of Attwoods and until then no payment would be made.
The poor refuse collection service in the capital has plagued citizens, especially in the poorer and populous neighborhoods, for months. Attwoods claims that the Duquesa dump in the National District is not in a fit condition to receive large amounts of refuse and that the condition of the road leading to the dump is not acceptable for its trucks. Mayor Subervi and his predecessor, Rafael Corporan de los Santos, have harshly criticized the performance of Attwoods since the contract was signed in 1993, claiming that the company did not keep to its side of the agreement.
With the delegation representing Dixi Sanitary Services in Santo Domingo, it was reported that the president of Attwoods Dominicana, Abraham Canaan, has been replaced by Marc Lowery. Dixi, through its representative in the D.R., Rolando de la Cruz, said that the company is determined to improve its service and retain its contract with the Dominican government.