BEIRUT: Sukleen denied Friday accusations made by Kataeb party Chief MP Sami Gemayel that the company was in breach of government contract for operation of the Bourj Hammoud landfill and of its overall waste managment plan.
“MP Sami Gemayel’s news conference Thursday included false information that should be rectified to maintain the MP’s credibility and the public’s right to know the facts far from the political atmosphere,” a statement issued by Sukomi – the parent company of Sukleen – said.
Gemayel said that Sukleen sorts only 4 percent of collected waste which means that 96 percent of the garbage will be dumped randomly in Bourj Hammoud without further recycling for the next four year period. However, Sukomi fired back in their statement saying that they are abiding by the percentage agreed upon with the government. Nonetheless, Sukomi failed to add their agreed upon recycling and sorting percentage, in the statement.
“The percentage of recycling and sorting mentioned by MP Gemayel is false, since we are abiding by the percentage agreed upon in our contract with the Council of Development and Reconstruction,” the statement read.
Gemayel later said the waste management plant in Bourj Hammoud has suspended its work, but the company statement answered that the factory never ceased its operations and is currently receiving a daily amount of 300 tons of organic waste which are recycled in the Amrousieh and Karantina sorting plants.
“Sukleen and Sukomi would like to invite MP Gemayel to visit the composting plants and other facilities we run in order to support his political and development rhetoric with accurate information that increases its credibility,” the statement added.
Furthermore, Sukleen rejected the Kataeb party chief’s accusations that the company is bribing politicians. “We utterly reject any accusations that have been made of having ties with Lebanon’s political class, while stressing our main principal of complete transparency and professional work ethic,” the statement added.
The statement also warned that both Sukomi and Sukleen maintain the right to legally pursue anyone who defames them and their employees.
Moreover, Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb also responded to Gemayel by simply stating the choice were between resuming construction of the Bourj Hammoud landfill or returning trash to the streets, a common sight during last year’s crisis. “The problem is obvious; either garbage will spread on the streets once more or we can continue construction of this temporary solution for the next four years,” Chehayeb said following a meeting with Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun.
