The provisional charge of bribery against landfill Field Manager, Jean Arnulphy, by lorry contractor, Anand Dowlut, has brought to the surface a two-year controversy. Strangely enough, this scandal comes to light just when the one-billion rupee contract for the management of Mare-Chicose is to be renewed. The Societe de traitement et d?assainissement des Mascareignes (STAM), a subsidiary company of IBL group, has opened a parallel investigation with that of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC). It has also suspended both its field manager and the lorry contractor, and has interdicted them access to the site.

The case starts with the statement Anand Dowlut gives to the ICAC incriminating Jean Arnulphy. He explains that he has been working for STAM since 2001 like some 20 other lorry drivers on a daily basis to transfer leachate (liquid waste) from Mare-Chicose to Saint-Martin treatment plant. When he is asked to work on public holidays, his business flourishes and he even buys a second lorry.

According to him, everything is fine until April 2003. The field manager ?then starts to ask him for a commission on the amount of leacheate transported?. He alleges that he has paid some Rs 260 000 over the past nine months. His excuse is that he had to find ?evidence to incriminate the field manager?.

The latter has been provisionally charged with ?soliciting and obtaining bribes?. He has been released after paying bail for Rs 50,000. He claims, however, ?that he is innocent and that he has been framed?. On the other hand, the lorry contractor has complained to the ICAC about his own suspension. The latter has opened an enquiry concerning victimization of ?whistleblowers?.

<B>Opposition support</B>

IBL, moreover, has expressed its surprise that this scandal should break just as the Central Tender Board is examining the renewal of STAM?s contract. The latter expired last September and has been renewed on a monthly basis.

The affair has also taken a political colouring. The people in the vicinity have protested against the lorries driving through their villages and the inconveniences of the waste landfill. Allegations on contract allocation for the landfill site management have fuelled discussions in Parliament. The fact that Anand Dowlut has sought Arvin Boolell?s support and the announcement by the MR that it is coming up with ?an explosive document on future contracts? has brought further accusations of political manipulation.

<B>Marie-Claire LASSÉMILLANTE</B>

<B>Disputed contract due for fresh tender</B>

On top of the alleged bribery, lies a more severe problem. The contract for the landfill management, which expired in December, is unlikely to be allotted soon. The government has requested the Central Tender Board (CTB) to cancel the tender exercise that started last July and proceed with a fresh one. The main contention seems to have arisen between the contract evaluation committee chaired by Arjoon Sudhoo and the CTB. This committee says it is not prepared to review its conclusions, which have been reached after careful examination of all technicalities. It also complains of ?constraints during the evaluation exercise? and the ?non-respect of basic rules? in tendering, especially in this one-billion rupee contract. The two aspects of the contract - landfill management and electricity generation ? should have been the object of separate tenders and the technical aspect should have been separate from the financial one. A similar blunder is said to have occurred with the Poudre-D?or transfer station tender, which had to be cancelled last January. Open criticism is being thrown at the CTB, ministry technicians and private consultants. A sum of Rs 1 million is said to have been spent for this tender document and monthly payments of Rs 400,000 are made for the monitoring of Mare-Chicose landfill.

In the meantime, the parent ministry will have to take measures to ensure the smooth running of the landfill site, which processes 350 thousand tons of solid waste per year.