B.E.L. Bringing Energy to Life
Tonight, News Five premiers a new documentary series on the work that Belize Electricity Limited is doing in providing energy solutions to customers across the country. During the biweekly episodes, we will travel to various locations and speak with employees of the utility company as they go about their jobs. The aim is to shed light on the inner workings of B.E.L., for customers to gain a better appreciation of what it takes to bring energy to life. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with our inaugural story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
As a prime tourist destination on Ambergris Caye, San Pedro is arguably the fastest growing municipality in the country, aside from Belize City. In November 2019, Belize Electricity Ltd. inaugurated a new branch office in the island town. Since then, the company continues to provide services to meet the demands of an ever-expanding population.
Emanuel Pech
Emanuel Pech, Sr. Corporate Communications Officer, B.E.L.
“We are here in the hub, one of the hubs of economic activity where tourism is booming. And so, with all of this, with all of this growth in San Pedro that we are seeing, you obviously have an increase in the demand for electricity and so, through this series, we hope that you will gain some insight as to what are the plans, the future plans and mechanisms and the people designing and operating these plans.”
At the workplace on Pescador Drive, B.E.L.’s corporate communications officers meet with Ralph Lin, the Power Line Supervisor for San Pedro and Caye Caulker. They discuss a new docu-series that the company is embarking upon before setting out to join a pair of power line technicians in the field.
Khalil Enriquez
Khalil Enriquez, Sr. Corporate Communications Officer, B.E.L.
“Bringing Energy to Life is a unique, short infomercial series in which the company is undertaking. We’re trying to give viewers an idea of the behind-the-scenes operation that BEL partakes on a day-to-day basis. So many persons in their households, power gets to them very conveniently, you know, you flip a light switch, you touch a power button and you instantly get access to electricity. However, behind the scenes is a far more complex process than what… you might realize.”
Several miles north of the island, in an area that feels rather lonely and desolate, off the beaten path, a two-man team is busy working on an electrical pole.
Emanuel Pech
“Energy is the foundation for everything that is human life and more especially enterprise, businesses, which is part of our mission to support enterprise and promote national development.”
Together, the technicians temporarily cut off power supply to a small vacation place at the beachfront and soon after, they work in tandem to clear vegetation that threatens the overhead cable. It’s among the many services that BEL offers to customers, while preserving the integrity of its infrastructure.
Khalil Enriquez
“Access to electricity, reliable electricity is very important for not only national development, but productivity of enterprises.”
But why is it important for the utility company to share the inner workings of its operations with its customers?
Khalil Enriquez
“As you know, the generation of energy is a process. It starts from energy generation, then it goes to distribution, transmission, as well as metering. So we’ll be talking to key personnel from each department and also the works in the teams for the audience to be able to get a view as to what happens behind the scenes in their day-to-day operations, in how they conduct their jobs.”
And the complement of B.E.L. staff working behind the scenes is made up of ordinary people who are dedicated to their jobs and ensuring that customers are fully satisfied with the services provided by the company.
Emanuel Pech
“We are at San Pedro and you guys witnessed some operations and maintenance works that were happening on the lines, where the guys were doing some line clearing and this is just one day in the life of a BEL power line technician. So this is what we will be bringing to your homes, an insight into the operations of BEL and everything that makes up BEL which is the people.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
