A New Solar System to Electrify Indian Creek

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Belize and the village of Indian Creek, in Toledo District, for a solar project to electrify the community.  The Ministry of Public Utilities and Energy, as well as the Area Representative for Toledo West, and the leadership of that rural community entered into an agreement to introduce solar power to the area.  This was done after consultations with the community for its free, prior and informed consent, in line with the Consent Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice.  Through partnership with Belize Electricity Limited, a four hundred kilowatt solar hybrid mini-grid system will provide electricity which residents will receive at the same national rate.

Michel Chebat

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities & Energy

“As you know, we all lived through this pandemic and we all understood how difficult it was to communicate with each other and so electricity will provide us this avenue.  Electricity is not an end in itself, it‘s not just about the light.  It is about communication, it is about internet, it is about you all connecting with each other and with other villages where you can do business.  It is about your children learning, it is about your children having an entire new world open up to them, giving them access to education.  It is about health.  And so, my friends, across the country of Belize we have about twenty villages that don‘t have any electricity at all.  And so we are working hard to bring electricity because we understand what the value is to each of us.  We understand how electricity can change all of our lives and this has not been an easy process, and rightfully so because we must respect you, we must respect your traditional rights and we must work with you, so that together, you as the people, and we, as the government, can bring together something that works for everybody.  And I think that today, this plant that you have here is a real example of that.  It is an example of the government and the people working together for a common good.”

Oscar Requeña

Oscar Requeña, Area Rep, Toledo West

“When I saw that Indian Creek finally gave the consent for the project to proceed, I was the happiest person and I will tell you why.  Maybe I was happier than Indian Creek, I don‘t know, but I was happy through the process.”