GOB responds to “extreme environmentalists”

Following the recent publication of an article published in both international and national newspapers regarding the Chalillo dam, the Government of Belize has gone on the defensive against what it calls extremist environmental groups. In a letter signed by Cabinet Secretary Robert Leslie to the editor of the Globe and Mail, based in Canada, the government states that it takes offence to much of the publication. According to the Government, the article is an intriguing work of fiction and that the American National Resources Defence Council, NRDC, has maintained the underlying position that they should decide whether Chalillo is to be built rather than the people and the Government of Belize. The government press release went on to state that the government is committed to explore various means of electrical power generation to ensure that the needs of the country are met. News 5 was unable to contact local environmental groups who have also protested against the construction of Chalillo for comment on this matter.