NEAC will decide Chalillo’s fate

The shouting in Belmopan may have died down, but the debate over the Chalillo
hydro project still goes on…albeit under less polarised circumstances.
The fate of Chalillo now rests in the hands of the National Environmental
Appraisal Committee. This eleven member body is charged with evaluating
the environmental impact assessment submitted by B.E.L. for the project.
NEAC has made an initial response within the required sixty days and is
now in the process of taking a closer look at the dam’s likely impact
and how any damage can be mitigated. NEAC will meet on Thursday in Belize
City and it is believed that after a few more sessions they should have
a recommendation by the end of this month. NEAC’s decision however, will
not necessarily be the final word on Chalillo. If their verdict is negative
B.E.L. can still appeal to the Minister of Natural Resources, who then
appoints a tribunal to render a second opinion, after which the minister
can rule thumbs up or down. NEAC is chaired by the Chief Environmental
Officer–in this case Ismael Fabro–and consists of representatives of
the Departments of: Lands, Forestry, Housing and Planning, Fisheries,
Meteorology, Archaeology and Agriculture. Two NGO members–representing
Audubon and BACONGO–also sit on the committee. NEAC members are prohibited
from discussing their deliberations publicly.