Privy Council reserves judgment in Belize dam appeal

Saturday, December 6, 2003

LONDON, England: The Privy Council in London, which serves as the final court of appeal for Belize, reserved judgment on Thursday in the case brought by environmental groups in Belize to halt the construction of a dam along the Macal River, considered one of the country's major nature reserves. A judgment may not be handed down for several weeks.

According to Godfrey Smith, Belize's attorney general, the dam is fundamental to the country's economic development. He warned of dire consequences if the Privy Council delays the project.

As a poor country, Belize relies on foreign investment to build public projects, but Godfrey Smith fears the money would evaporate if the Privy Council orders the dam to undergo a second environmental assessment, possibly postponing construction for years or even causing it to be abandoned.

"Belize simply cannot afford for the world financial community to know that there is this kind of indecisiveness," he told the five-man judicial committee hearing the appeal.

The Belize Association of Non-Governmental Organizations believes plans for the hydroelectric project are flawed. The group says the dam's approval was granted on plans that showed the facility would be built on granite, but geological surveys indicate the site chosen consists of sandstone and shale, raising questions about safety.

The group wants the Privy Council to order a new environmental assessment. Construction on the project began earlier this year.

Belize Electric Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Fortis, a Canadian company, concedes bedrock was originally misidentified as granite, but says the sandstone at the site can safely support the dam.

The environmental groups also argue the project, valued at US$30 million, will damage surrounding rain forest that has been left untouched by human beings for 500 years and destroy the habitat of threatened species, including jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws.

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