Mare-Chicose – Joanna Bérenger: "I hope the minister will impose sanctions instead of tolerating"

This Friday morning, a strike took place at Mare-Chicose, disrupting operations at the landfill site. The protest was initiated by truck owners who work as contractors for the Sotravic company, who are denouncing several months of unpaid wages as well as tensions related to the organization of their activities.

Typically, around twenty trucks arrive at this site to transport wastewater to treatment centers. However, according to the mobilized drivers, the company has recently acquired its own vehicles to handle these services, which has exacerbated the situation.

A complaint has been lodged at the Cent-Gaulettes police station for obstruction of access routes.

It is worth noting that the management contract for the site was awarded to the Sotravic/Strata joint venture on June 28, 2024.

In response to this situation, Joanna Bérenger believes that these dysfunctions were predictable. She recalls that a similar problem occurred a few weeks ago at Mare-Chicose and criticizes the government's passivity regarding the numerous shortcomings of the contractor over the past year.

The deputy also highlights that the government is using a consultant to monitor and advise on the management of the site, questioning the delay in implementing the recommendations made.

"It is precisely because of this slowness and passivity that we can no longer remain inactive. In the interest of the environment, I hope the minister will start imposing sanctions instead of tolerating, and begin to anticipate rather than react. Otherwise, it is the environment that will suffer the consequences," she stated.

Text: Shaïmaa Kurmally