The St. Kitts Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) had some major financial accomplishments in 2018. In the corporation’s recap of the year on its weekly radio show Talking Trash on WINN FM 98.9, Assistant General Manager Candice Caines disclosed that in 2018, the SWMC was finally able to implement it’s financial policies and procedures. “In 2018 we were able to implement most of those policies not so that it makes doing business with us difficult, but makes it more accountable for the persons who work with us and also for the general public,” Ms. Caines noted.

Ms. Caines also disclosed that the corporation would have purchased three brand new garbage trucks, without having to incur any debt. “We were able to tap in a little bit in our reserves, and we were very grateful for the ability to be able to afford our trucks without accessing bank loans and debt. We are looking forward for those trucks to be on island if not by the end of this week, by late next week,” Ms. Caines disclosed. She noted that the old trucks will still be used in the garbage collection operations.

Meanwhile, Ms. Caines lauded the fact that the SWMC is one of few public corporations that has audited accounts tabled in parliament each year. “Solid Waste is one of the few corporation that, every single year, tables its financial statement in parliament and once again we were able to do that. We will continue to do that; it’s being done since 2000. We will maintain that tradition and I am happy to say once gain we have completed a successful audit. We look forward for the audit of the 2018 accounts next year and we will once again be working with our auditors Grant Thornton.

The SWMC Assistant General Manager further disclosed that the corporation’s accounts department would have been restructured and staffers received training in several areas. Going ahead in 2019, the corporation will be looking to increase its sources of revenue. “We continue to collect revenues from the environmental level, from the cruise industry. Our biggest supplier is Delisle Walwyn and SCASPA. We have worked with them over a number of years to ensure that visitors coming to our shores pay their fair share in environmental levy and we have stepped up on the collection from those agencies and we will continue to do that in the ensuing 2019,” he said. The Assistant General Manager also disclosed that the corporation will be reviewing tipping fees at the landfill as part of its thrust to increase revenues.

Ms. Caines also disclosed that the corporation will receive a new weighbridge software for the landfill and would look to finalize its new cost structure in 2019.