Govt. agrees to relocate landfill

In environmental news, Cabinet has decided that a national sanitary landfill slated for establishment at Mile twenty-seven on the Western Highway will now be re-sited at mile twenty-four. The turnaround came after strident opposition from a coalition of environmental groups and local residents. According to Prime Minister Said Musa, the new site will work just as well as the one originally proposed.

Prime Minister Said Musa

“We’ve had various studies done. Initially we were looking only at mile twenty-seven, but in response to environmental concerns that were raised, we decided to look at alternatives as well. The I.D.B. carried out a study, which we only received two days ago, showing that both the mile twenty-seven and mile twenty-four sites are equally suitable for the sanitary landfill. So we felt that because both sites have about equal merit, and there doesn’t seem to be any controversy over mile twenty-four, and the truth is we decided it would be best politically as well as environmentally to move ahead on the mile twenty-four site.”

Stewart Krohn

“Do you expect the environmentalists to ease you a little bit now on Chalillo?”

Prime Minister Said Musa

“We would hope so, but I don’t expect it.”

Stewart Krohn

“Where does government stand now on the Chalillo project seeing that it is a private sector B.E.L. project?”

Prime Minister Said Musa

“We are very much committed to it. I think what is happening right now shows most graphically the need for this reservoir, for us to be able to tap into the full water resources that are available to our country. We are satisfied that based on all the studies so far, that the environmental impact is very limited in terms if whatever so call damage that will be caused to the environment. We believe the benefits and the advantages to the people of Belize far outweigh those concerns.”