Mining Erodes Citrus Groves in Pomona Valley

Some citrus growers in the Pomona Valley are alarmed about mining activities along the North Stann Creek River.   Today, Citrus Products of Belize Limited came forward with a complaint that the extraction of minerals by a Mennonite concern operating in the area is causing considerable erosion of citrus groves and private property.  The waterway spans forty miles and empties into the Caribbean Sea at the estuary in Dangriga.  Since being granted a mining permit, the company has removing minerals from a location behind Pomona Village which landowners say directly threatens farmlands.  Earlier today, Dwight Montero, an employee of C.P.B.L. spoke about what they are experiencing.

Dwight Montero

Dwight Montero, Senior Farm Manager, C.P.B.L.

“Presently we have West End Construction company who is mining in the North Stann Creek River that passes behind our citrus orchards in Pomona and behind Pomona Village. Since West End Construction Company commenced constant mining in this part of the Stann Creek River, erosion during floods become a serious problem for us, for C.P.B.L., where C.P.B.L. starts losing citrus trees from erosion of riverbanks and the villagers downstream in Pomona Village start to lose a portion of their property due to erosion. Apart from getting their properties destroyed, the villagers are not getting anything from West End Company for fixing streets within the village nor any contribution to the village council.  So, at this point in time, this company mining in the river is Citrus Products of Belize’s citrus groves and at the same time destroying the property of some of these villagers that live along the banks of the river and no one is getting any benefit from the mining of this company in the North Stann Creek River.”