‘If Assembly wants to review burner decision then so be it’
Tuesday 16th February 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
THE reasons for approving Suez to build a waste plant for Guernsey are as valid now as they were in July, according to the Public Services Minister.
Deputy Bernard Flouquet (pictured) said Mary Lowe’s amendment to overturn the decision had the same intended purpose as Jan Kuttelwascher’s requete to open the door to other technologies, but it was more open about it.
If the Assembly wished to review it again, he said, that was their prerogative.
‘The whole procurement process and the subsequent results have been approved by the States every step of the way,’ he said.
‘I think it’s disappointing that so soon after reaching a decision on a long-term waste management solution, and having taken years to reach this point, we will have to go through all the same arguments again.
‘However, I have said previously that it is better to face a motion with a clear purpose that will give us some direction, which this amendment would, than the actual requete which in itself does nothing other than perhaps create more uncertainty.’
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Don’t tell me he’s actually LISTENING……. Blimey. Sounds like the start of a U-turn to me. Good on yer Bernie. Not before time. Softening the ground ready for an about turn. You were elected by the people, so it’s a good job you are starting to listen to them.
Report abuse
Bernie,
Do you remember last year, I asked all Deputies, “If legislation was proposed to stop, impede, reduce or in any way affect companies dealing in recyclable materials, to ensure fuel for the incinerator, up to and including, shutting down such companies, would you support it?”
worryingly over 50% said they would support such legislation.
Many may now realise this would be political suicide and could even put their personage at risk.
This is their chance to get rid of that scenario ever occuring and get out clear.
Even your deputy minister now accepts that PSD are incapable of getting the correct solution and should have the responsibility removed. As he said on BBC radio today.
I urge all deputies to support the Lowe ammendment. You all know the alternatves are there and are workable.
Suez will be able to re tender at no cost, as PSD already have it.
Give yourselves the chance to compare their tender against Rodney, Green Homes and
Total Waste.
Some others may even tender.
Report abuse
MHH
Give him a chance – Bernie was given so many ladders to climb down with that he has to take advice from his senior civil servants as to which one to take !
Report abuse
Steve
What is the point of going through all the motions again?
Rodney’s Vantage system has yet to be proved and runs against the sustainability principle – in fact there is doubt that packaging up all your waste in plastic and shipping it out is even legal.
Green Homes has yet to prove its combination of bits of kit off the shelf. Anyway the Compact Power version of the same principle is far more elegant and better proven.
Then there is Total Waste – it has failed to inspire anybody.
Sorry folks. If the States chooses to start again we will probably end up with the same result – two years down the line.
Roger Dadd insisted that there be 5 years reserve in the Mont Cuet tip. Time is now running out.
Is this States totally unable to make a decision and stick by it?
Report abuse
Roy
The point of going through all the motions again is because the Guernsey public and numerous Deputies have realised that they’ve been hoodwinked by Bernard Flouquet’s tactics to suit his (and your) strongly-preferred incinerator.
The Guernsey public does not want this incineration for financial or environmental reasons. Period.
And I doubt very much if the States will revert to the incinerator project in 2 years time. If they ever reverted to the incinerator project I suspect it would be more like 5-10 years time when Jersey start to get capacity problems. Yes, that’s right – Jersey – whose offer of a solution for our waste was completely and in my view negligently disregarded by Deputy Flouquet in favour of the incinerator project.
I’d far rather that our States admit that they got it wrong (or rather that they were misled), than to go ahead with the wrong project merely so that they don’t lose credibility. They will lose far more credibility by continuing to back the wrong horse and committing Guernsey to financing a huge white elephant.
Report abuse
Mr Bisson
Rodneys vanatge solution has been proved to work over a sustained period which was long enough to prompt the Turkey government to order a significant number of these units.
This is the latest large scale order for this technology which you continue to label as “unproven”, which again is your OPINION.
Not the opinion of many other governments containing experts advising them who are ordering these units.
As per your comments on total wate being uninspiring, you have to ask, uninspiring to whom?? Was it not big enough or expensive enough Roy?? Are we now judging projects by their size and total cost, rather than their efficiency and cost effectiveness??
And Roy, your “time is running out” comments are easily countered by the fact that Jersey have offered to take our waste, this is a perfect oppurtunity to get it right for a change, as this is the perfect interim solution if we manage to not have anything in place in time (which is doubtful).
Does it not make sense to take more time to ensure we do whats right for the island?? (which any man and his dog could tell you its not Suez, you have even admitted to this beleif yourself)
As per your last comment, lets look at it another way…
As long there are unqualified people making highly contentious decisions that effect the island as a whole on many levels, then isnt this an example democracy actually working, i.e some of our elected few actually listening to the concerns of the public and saying “hang on, this isnt right”.
Or would you democracy done away with so that Bernie can just do whatever he wants no matter the cost or ramifications??
Report abuse
Roy,
“What is the point of going through all the motions again?”
* To save a lot of Money
* Because we don’t want the health risks
* Because the Longue Houge site should be a revenue generator not a waste of space.
* Because Suez failed the tender proccess
* Because the waste solution should concentrate and focus on reduction, reuse, recycle NOT burn it.
I don’t think there are any shipping issues with the product Rodney’s proposal would produce. You can go down Norman Piette’s and buy the same end products which are imported.
Report abuse
Next Tuesday evenings presentation by Paul Connet 7:30pm at Beau Sejour will detail why we should not be having mass-burn incineration (for those who still don’t understand why) and will explain what we should be doing with our waste….. how we can turn dealing with our waste into an opportunity rather than a problem. Exporting to jersey in the interim would give us the breathing space needed to get these work streams up and running while at the same time helping Jersey out financially plus reducing the pollution from their under utilised incinerator.
Please spread the word about Paul Connet’s talk.
Report abuse
Roy, Roy, Roy, Roy, Roy.
Does Bernie watch over your shoulder as you type, or do you have to send it for approval before posting?
You forgot to finish your sentence, let me help.
Then there is Total Waste – it has failed to inspire anybody at PSD.
Its funny how some of the comments I recieved from non PSD deputies include, “brilliant”, fanastic, excellent, etc.
After talking to PSD they always come back with the same response.
“Oh you did’nt tender”.
Im sure you don’t need me to go over that for you again.
As I have not sent you the proposal, yet you are sure that non of it is any good, I can only assume you are only acting as Bernies lap dog using information from him.
To put my mind at rest please indicate which aspects of the Total Waste proposal you think don’t work.
I would hate to think you were rubbishing it witout even knowing what it is.
You would’nt do that, would you Roy?
Report abuse
Total Waste
As I have not sent you the proposal, yet you are sure that non of it is any good, I can only assume you are only acting as Bernies lap dog using information from him
Spot on my thoughts exactly.
To put my mind at rest please indicate which aspects of the Total Waste proposal you think don’t work.
I would hate to think you were rubbishing it witout even knowing what it is.
You would’nt do that, would you Roy?
Yes he would if Bernie told him to.
Over to you Roy/Bernie
Report abuse
Roy.
PSD have consistently blocked any attempts to meaningfully reduce residual waste tonnages. Through the whole process they have been full of reasons why you can’t do this and can’t do that without ever trying to find the solutions to the problems they raise. When someone else suggests, or even shows them how to solve the problems, they go strangely silent. There has been no focus on reducing the size of the problem….. they would rather keep all the waste in a single stream and get it all dealt with using a large turn-key solution that will take all the waste with as little thought or effort possible. They are looking at waste as a ‘problem’ and not as something that can provide opportunities.
We should not be looking at any ONE big plant. We should be looking at waste minimisation, source separation and kerbside collections but they have blocked that twice in the last year alone.
This plant will be a thoroughly shameful reflection of Guernsey’s ability to get its act together and its attitude towards the many problems facing the world.
Report abuse
“THE reasons for approving Suez to build a waste plant for Guernsey are as valid now as they were in July”, according to the Public Services Minister.
I completely agree.
They were a million miles from being valid then and they are a million miles from being valid now.
Report abuse