Medical clinic fined $500 for garbage

In a follow up to a story first reported in yesterday’s newscast, authorities have moved quickly to remove the load of medical waste which ended up in an open lot in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. According to Lawrence Ellis of the City’s Sanitation Department, a five hundred dollars fine was levied against Belize Medical Associates, whose stationary was found among the used IV’s, blood stained surgical gloves and other hospital debris identified in the trash. When we contacted Belize Medical this afternoon, Doctor Marcello Coye, who is a member of the company’s Board of Directors, told News Five that at a meeting today it was decided to terminate the services of Juan Molina, who had been contracted to dispose of both regular and bio-hazardous wastes from Belize Medical. Coye says that under the agreement Molina was supposed to have burnt and buried the dangerous wastes that ended up on Tubruce Street and to have delivered the rest to the City dump at mile three on the Western Highway. Coye says that although any waste containing human secretion is potentially dangerous and should be incinerated, the refuse on Tubruce Street poses no immediate danger. This he said, is because there have been no recent AIDS or Hepatitis cases treated at Belize Medical. Dr. Coye apologized for the situation calling it an unfortunate mistake, even though his clinic cannot accept total responsibility for the waste ending up in Lake Independence. He said that negotiations are currently underway with Belize Waste Control to have them dispose of hazardous waste properly and safely. In the mean time, Coye says the Board has authorized the City Council to clean up the mess and to send the bill to Belize Medical Associates. The Sanitation Department says work will begin on Friday.