Inadequate transport services are preventing Dili sanitation workers from doing their jobs.
Department of Sanitation (DAS) Dili chief Domingos dos Santos said the department’s fleet of 30 rubbish trucks – seven of which are from the government – was insufficient to deal with Dili’s rubbish burden.
Dos Santos said the largest volume of rubbish was produced by companies, not households.
He said the fleet of 30 trucks could handle waste from households but could not deal with rubbish produced by restaurants, stores and other commercial outlets.
Dos Santos said a proposal to the Ministry of State Administration for seven more trucks was not approved as the budget was insufficient.
The responsibility was handed to individual sucos to manage.
The trucks rented by DAS do three rubbish runs a day while the seven government owned trucks do two to three pick-ups each day, depending on fuel availability.
Dos Santos said DAS could never ensure Dili was clean with such limited facilities.
MP Maria Fernanda Lay alleged sanitation trucks were being diverted by the government to transport meals to schools.
Minister Jorge da Concencao Teme denied he had ordered sanitation vehicles to carry school meals but agreed the sanitation service lacked trucks.
“I have never authorized the rubbish trucks to transport school meals,” he said.
The minister said he would investigate MP Lay’s claims as he was surprised by the information.
