New boss for dump project
(CNS): As government inches along plans to address the George Town dump with a national integrated solid waste management project the public works department has recruited a new senior project manager from overseas. Jim Schubert, a Canadian with some 25 years’ experience in the solid waste management industry will now take the helm of the process to deal with Cayman’s future rubbish. Schubert will be responsible for all aspects of project delivery for the proposed waste management system. PWD Director J Max Jones said the appointment is in line with government’s aim to re-centralise project management of major projects under his department.
The ministry’s chief officer, Jennifer Ahearn who chairs the project steering committee said the project was a national priority that the minister was anxious to see move forward in accordance with the provisions of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.
“Mr Schubert’s philosophy of reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering also closely fits in with our own beliefs concerning the direction that this project should take,” she said.
Government has ben under increasing public pressure to address Grand Cayman's dump problem immediately, but the costly project will require significant financing and a public private partnership. As a result of the tight rein placed on public finances by the FCO, the government has to follow a lengthy process. This means it will be 2016 before there is a new solid waste management system in place.
Schubert served as Project Manager for the Waste to Biofuels Project for the City of Edmonton for the past 12 years. This system includes an integrated handling and transfer facility to process waste that is then sent to a gasification or biofuels facility. The project will ultimately divert 90% of Edmonton’s residential waste from the landfill. Before that he worked as the Facility Manager of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC). While there he was responsible for all aspects of the operation, such as: the sanitary landfill, dry waste site, a materials recovery facility for recyclables and operation that included North America’s largest composting facility.
An advocate of the integrated waste management approach, otherwise known as “reduce, reuse, recycle, recover”, he is well-versed in the development of such plans, and stresses that early public engagement is crucial to their success. “It is the public who will ultimately pay the costs associated with the new waste system,” he said.
His waste management experience includes environmental permit applications; air pollution control; hazardous waste combustion systems; the planning, design and implementation of new facilities; and the technical assessment of facilities requiring upgrading or retrofitting.
“I do believe that what I am doing is good for the environment, and that developing an integrated system to deal with the problem of waste management, benefits the here and now as well as generations to come,” Schubert stated.
Commenting on the appointment, Osbourne Bodden, the minister responsible for Environmental Health and the dump said: “We are excited to have a professional of this calibre on-board, and are confident that he can play a key role in keeping the project moving forward.”
Category: Local News
I know a safety "expert" who would be suitable for the dump!
The recycling centre on dump road is open daily except Sunday. They accept Batterys, AC's, car parts, e waste, window frames as well as other unwanted items.
These items are shipped off island regurally or put back into good use by those that need it
back to square one …ppm style…..
how is the cruise dock coming along?????
Congrats Ozzie- now employ someone with safety knowledge (like someone who has safety experience in landfills in USA or Canada) to assist the gentleman and I am sure that progress can and will be made. The dump SORELY lacks any safety measures!!
20/10/14 – 09:26 – Appoint Mr. Wally Whittaker to an oversight board??!! Wasn't he Director of DEH for many years when this problem was mounting and the opportunities for solutions were better? Yet he did nothing. Why include him in any solution now?
As long as Mr. Schubert is appropriately qualified and a fair and transparent process was undertaken to recruit him at least this is a step in the right direction. But any solution which excludes recycling starting in homes/resorts/restaurants will beinadequate.
Wally Whittaker…? You're joking right…?
11:22 You know nothing of what Wally did for DEH the man was the first to make revolutionary changes at DEH and the dump back in the 1980s. If Wally and Ezzard were left to complete the work they had started with DEH, HS and SS we would have a better country today when it comes to the environment, health and social services. People like you who know nothing of what they write or speak should do some research beforehand, the reports are all there somewhere in government, you and the rest of the country would find the solution in those reports and recommendations. Some of the spiteful detractors of the late 1980s and early 1990s should be proud of their handiwork and where it has led this island. Political power over country is a dangerous thing that is why Cayman is in the mess that it is today and will continute until we get a group of young men and women who could care less about politics and more about the future of its people and country.
Seriously doubt anything coming out of that ministry is fair or transparent.
Because that is what we always do. Move people on when they are hopeless and them bring them back to complete an important piece of work they were wholly incapable of doing when in the job. Just look at what Minister Rivers is doing with education.
Unless he's a magician and can wave his wand and make the dump disappear, all the experience and qualifications will amount to nothing.This problem needs political will,to close and rehabilitate the existing dump and relocate it elsewhere.
Imagine if we can somehow build a park on that property and enjoy the island wideviews from the top of that mountain. A place where we can stroll, bike and jog. Clean air and views of both north sound and SMB. How nice would that be?
You negative Nancys need to put a sock in it.. Shamefull!! A man is invited to our home and is willing to share his expert skill and before his first day is dammed. None of you have a clue
(besides your YouTube education) how to clean up this mess of continated land.. The Matrix tender has no merrit is this post. Welcome Sir!!. Please keep in mind the groups of businesses that have pioneered the recycling efforts on the Islands .. Remember to include the Sister Islands in your plans. Best of luck to you and If you need some experienced recyclers come check me. Jenn
To: You negative Nancys, 08:28
Sir , Madame It's obvious you didn't get a You-Tube education! In fact by your own volition you have indicated to the world through your comment that you not only are lacking in education but in good manners, by starting of with: And I quote."You negative Nancys need to put a sock in it" and, please explain to us what is "Continated Land" Is that something you learned at one of the Ivy League schools you attended. Perhaps it may not be a bad idea for you to consider a visit to You-Tube!
BTW the laugh was from JENN
i have an idea …GIVE IT TO DART ! HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT FOR FREE !!
Any administration that sorts the dump problem has my vote. And conversely, those that don't, haven't. That's what needs to be made clear to the politicians. The dump is our biggest problem, period. Solve it and you'll be a national hero. Ignore it, as the previous administration did, and you should be consigned to the dump of history.
Schby, call Dart quick!
Brilliant move – the Government is following the process set out in the FFR and implementing recommendations made by the Auditor. General. This appointment will allow the Ministry to gets on with its work and not have to project manage this major project. Its happening folks. – by 2016 we will have our airport redeveloped- Piers being build and a solution for our waste management. Too bad others Governments didn’t follow this process.
Move the dump right next to Northward prison and make those convicts think twice about committing a 2nd crime when they get out.
Ahhhh… catch a whiff, boys! That's the smell of prison.
FINALLY! It looks like our fearless leaders are going to do something about our trash problem. Mr. Schubert seems to be an excellent choice to get things going on the right track. Very impressive to me is the fact that he has a lot of experience, and not with some here today, gone tomorrow business….. and Edmonton has over 800,000 people! I just hope those afore-mentioned leaders don't screw things up!
and what makes you think they will let him do his job particularly if it affects friends and family? Unfortunately Cayman has a history of bringing in people to fix problems and then resolutely does not allow them to do the job for which they were hired. Sad but true but being an optomist I am forever hopeful that the good Lord will give them the wisdom to allow change.
You can have all the experts you want but if no one listens to them and nothing is ever done then what is the point?
See the speed with which Alden dumped the EY report. Coward.
Kudos to Osbourne Bodden and Jennifer Ahearn for being proactive to make the move to take on the task of sorting out Mount Trashmore.
We will in short order not have to call it by this name anymore as I am confident that the Canadian, Mr. Schubert, who obviously has the expertse to deal with what to do to reduce and get rid of this unsightly and unhealthy trash that our Goverments from way back put on the back burner, never considering that resolving this mess was one of our island's main priorities.
Thank God that they have hired a Candian to take over the helm as Canada is known as the country with strict laws regarding recycling and reusing rubbish.
Now we have to do our part and our people have to be educated in this realm and change old habits and embrace a new awareness so as to benefit our island.
can you all stop using the word "kudos"!!
kudos to this one, kudos to that one, and nobody still ain't done shit. except hire another expat.
How could anyone disagree with that?
I wish you luck or confusion. Not sure which one, but give it a try.
Slocom could do this job. it just needs to be addressed!!!
Well at least the Government hired one of their fellow Caymanians this time eh? hehehe
Chief officer Canadian! New Senior Project Manager Canadian!
JUST ASKING?
True. Years of waste management by Caymanians has been highly effective and Canada has a terrible environmental record.
You have a problem with that obviously but clearly its a good move since there is no one with the expertise on the island and besides it will give the haters on this site something to blame a foreigner for if he does not manage to change things through no fault of his own.
Not really. That specific role of being blamed is reserved for the UK.
If Mac gets his way we will ALL be Jamaican….he' done his best so far.
Attorney General Jamaican, Chief Justice jamaican, Teachers Jamaican, most of their staff jamaican……..monkey see monkey do, all expats looking out for their own except the caymanians. JUST SAYING!
Well there you have it, surely there was no one qualified here to do the job..Aint the PPM great..!!!
Good luck, sir. We need the help.
I just hope he's a bit better than the last Canadian 'expert' they employed to sort this out. I seem to remember that he bought his Canadian friends in to deal with scrap metal and we ended up with the Matrix fiasco?
Ahhh the old sacraficial lamb.
2 more years until vote. Put someone in there, foreigner, who is expendable.
Wont' have or give the funding needed to faciliate what is needed to fix the dump issue.
Blame the issue on the new guy.
Dump him, start over again, you have 4 more years of stalling.
Brilliant!
Welcome aboard Mr. Schubert. Cayman, you have a golden opportunity here – give this gentleman and his department all the assistance you can and more. As an Edmontonian, I've seen the city take it's dumps from smelly, smoking,ash belching eyesores and transition to a world class system that can take the refuse from over a million residents and recyle, reuse and compact. Dump sites have become parks and golf courses. One of the runs at the Edmonton Ski Club and most of Muttart Conservatory are on a reclaimed dump site. CAYMAN – quit leaving your trash on empty lots and your batteries by the roadside. This applies to the yard services that dump the cuttings "over the fence" and throw their drink bottles and cans and take away dinners in the bush. Hey – contractors! – quit "relocating" your debris into the bush and the rest of the empty lots.This goes for the lowlifes that use Barkers as an alternate dump site. The biggest challenge will be changing your attitude. Cayman – YOU have to participate in making positive changes. Talk is cheap – step up to plate and don't be so lazy. Put your garbage in the proper containers. STOP throwing your trash into the recycle bins. Make an effort. Mr. Schubert – you will have your hands full – but I am glad you're here and wish you every success.
I would like to welcome Mr. Schubert also to our beautiful Islands. Reading on his experience, it seems that Mr. Schubert, would be quite appropiate for the position. But it seems that we are already reading the negative comments made by some of the readers. The comment submitted by Anonymous 12:18, is a direct hit on the nail head. We are blaming other people for the problem when it is us, the locals who is screwing things up!! By locals, I mean the people that are allowed to live on these beautiful Islands, with no regard to the cleanliness of it!! I have to agree 100% with this reader, the problem is we are too nasty and lazy!! When you are home and you finish drinking something from a container, where do you throw it? Do you simply toss it on the floor, walk to the trash and dump it, or put it in a recycable bin? According to what I can see, most of you would throw it on the floor, if the trash on the sides of the road is any indication!! I am a local and have been involved in clean up committees before in the West Bay area, only to have an area like say, Hell road spotless after a weekend clean up only to see loads of trash 2 days after the clean up. Where is our respect to nature? When are we going to teach our children properly? The problem isn't going to be solved just by Mr. Schubert coming here, we have to all pitch in and help with this disastrous problem!!! Anywhere I travel and there are recycing there, I do my part to help out. We all have to be conscious that trash is a dangerous problem, leading to serious pollution and health hazards!! I remember one time, a police friend of mine told me a story of a young child tossing trash on the side of the road. He advised the child that it was not the right thing to do, in fact it is punishable by law. He took the child home so the parents could advise on how to properly dispose of trash, well he got quite a surprise, the parents actually cursed at him and told him to leave their premises and stop telling them how to raise their children!!! This is the biggest problem in Cayman, to start addressing the problem we have to start at home. Trash are for garbage bins, not to be thrown next to a beautiful hibiscus tree, to obstruct the view of that tree!! Take a walk from the corner of Northwest Point Road behind Alfresco to Heritage kitchen, in this short distance you will see that people drinking all their beer, eating all their KFC, etc., just are not bothered, they leave all their trash behind, even with trash bins 2 feet away!!! I feel like collecting it all and dumping it right back in their own yard!! Caymanians take your head out of the jungle, for a better word, and let us all tackle this problem the right way!!! Let us not start criticising someone who is coming to try and solve the problem, let us all pitch in and help out!! Remember pollution is a serious problem that will bite us in the ass so hard one day, we will wish that we started earlier!!!! However, we have to be educated to know what to do properly, we have to start throwing trash in refuse bins, recycling, etc., but more importantly we have to want to know!! As my dad used to say, " If you don't know any better, how can you do any better!".
Sigh………………………………….here we go again…………………………….
Patiently awaiting the FIRST report Mr. Schubert.
Being from Canada he should know what he's doing. They have recycled for decades, and the Canadian cities are so clean. I hope the CIG doesn't put too many roadblocks in his path – like no dump for Bodden Town.
I wish Jim Schubert the very best. I would like to float the idea of placing garbage skips around the Island in strategic locations, in conjunction with an agressive information blast to all Residents in Cayman. This should help stop fly-tipping and roadside littering.
Things could be so much better in Cayman with relatively little cost. I'm out in the landscape a lot, and the extent of selfish and thoughtless littering here is truly shameful and quite inexcusable. We could adapt the successful Texas slogan, 'DON"T TRASH CAYMAN', because that is exactly what a small segment of our society is doing, every day. Combine that with a permanent team whose job would be to remove the trash washed in to our beaches, and Cayman could look nice again. Go and visit Colliers if you need convincing: there's more plastic than sand.
Oh great… Another Ex-Pat.
I suppose you are going to say that of the 1000+ people registered at the NWDA none of them had 25 years of experience in the solid waste management industry, and a philosophy of reducing, reusing, recycling and recovery?
They are saying it and they are right. Get over it. Cayman is not known for its academia. And there is no reason why it should. When you need outside help, take it. Unless your that anti- everyone else.
Correct, there was no one. But since you are so concerned for the unemployed, why not employ one yourself and pay them a proper living wage.
There is home grown talent here. Only yesterday I saw a local recycling expert rifling through the garbage outside cafe del sol. He was obviously conducting spot checks on behalf of the government.
Captain Kurk is in for a real treat
I hope he has a lot of sunscreen
Being from Kanada i hope he is able to understand a foreign language
Did he have to take a test to make sure he can speak english? or is he exempt?
thank goodness he can leave after 6 months
All that said there are people on island with better understanding of the situation and the methods to remedy the current problems.
But I guess they weren't good enough
Couldn't we find a Caymanian from among our many unemployed graduates?
So having a degree qualifies someone to do any job. You cannot be serious!
Here we go again, I can see it now another Matrix in the works I can feel it in my bones. In the same breath I wish Mr Schubert and the government all the best in fixing the dump and really pray for the best. I would like this to work out for the people of Cayman, Mr. Bodden please appoint Mr. Wally Whittaker on the oversight board if there is one.
He won't last until 2016
Holy crap, the first smart thing this government has done and it only took them 17 months!
This dump issue is difficult enought to resolve but add the district politics into the mix and you have a real mess, a solution will be most elusive for Mr. Schubert.
How about Mr. Schubert keeps a blog going with all of the ongoing developments, so that the people that pay his wages can see if they are getting value for money, or is this just another unfinished symphony?
Good luck you going to need it dealing with donkeys in the ministry and at DEH
Maybe we should ask if any of those BRIGHT DEH bosses have any say in Little Cayman, or is that run by some homeless dude?
Some progress finally. Hope he's been vetted and is not like another "expert" PPM hired from overseas – Mr. Sayed.
Lets see how 25 years of doing it right stacks up to 25 years of doing it wrong. Hope he is ready for this. Good luck Mr. Shubert. Please help save Cayman island from the Caymankind government.
So…are we finally going to move the dump to the Bodden Town locaton or Naah?
Naah. It is clearly the best, if not only, option, But it will cost Ossie votes and Alden seats. So why do the right thing ?