Economy - Greater Belize Media

B.E.L. Activates Load Shedding Following CFE Mexico Challenges

On Monday, the Belize Electricity Limited informed its customers that CFE Mexico is encountering difficulties in maintaining power supply to our grid. As a result, CFE has asked the company to make the necessary arrangement to supply Belize’s demand from our local generation sources. According to B.E.L.’s statement on Monday, the nation’s demand for electricity is currently over one hundred megawatts, while the maximum available in-country capacity is around eighty-four megawatts. So, what does that mean? Well, B.E.L. will have to carry out significant load shedding to maintain the stability of the grid. In simpler terms, the company must temporarily cut off electricity to certain areas to prevent the entire system from failing. Belize Electricity Limited held a press conference this afternoon where Jose Moreno, the General Manager of Distribution Services, told reporters that the company is working to increase its supply capacity to the country.

Jose Moreno, General Manager, Distribution Services BEL

“Last night was one of those days where they called us and told us we need to curtail your supply and you guys need to zero the transfer of power at the interconnection point. When that happened we had to bring up all the generation possible and that was not enough so that we could zero and that was not enough. We had to do some load shedding. We opened some of our distribution feeders to meet that requirement. What is happening to us is something we saw happening and we took action. We went ahead and purchased another gas turbine and we have deployed that to San Pedro however that is still not commissioned. It is expected to be commissioned by the end of May early June. We have another project that is really impacting our decisions, is the availability of the gas turbine at Mile Eight. That unit is undergoing another upgrading project. We are almost at the end of the third week in that project. We have GE and other contractors working on turbine replacement. That is why we went ahead and notified our customers that during these thirty days we will be very vulnerable because without the additional mega watts of capacity, we take that twenty megawatts from our in country equation, we lose the capacity to have those emergency or block start procedures in case we lose the system. That happened this morning.”

Electricity Instability Will Persist Across the Country Temporarily

According to Moreno, since Monday night there have been numerous interruptions to electricity supply across the country because of high demand and inadequate supply. B.E.L. is urging customers to curtail their use of power. He noted that with the commissioning of the upgraded feeder at Mile Eight, power supply should be back to near normal this weekend. But until then, there will be numerous inconsistencies in the power supply.

Jose Moreno, General Manager, Distribution Services B.E.L.

“This evening is CFE curtails us again we will have to rotate some outages, we will have to affect some feeders given that the demand today is high as it was yesterday. Normally it happens at the tie that CFE goes through its peak. That happens between seven to ten o’clock at night. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we are doing an upgrade of the gas turbine at mile eight. With that upgrade we should be getting ten additional megawatts to the twenty that the unit was rated earlier. That unit is supposed to start commissioning by this weekend. We expect to have that unit online by early next week. The process of restoring the system is kind of complex. We have to make sure we match generation to the demand we have. Sometimes the generating units become unstable when you add new load. Some of them will go off, their protection takes them off because of frequency or voltage and it cascades the whole system and that is what happened this morning.”

Attorney Says Black-Outs Inconveniencing the Courts

Earlier in our newscast, we told you about convicted attorney Oscar Selgado’s court appearance. He is being represented by attorney Arthur Saldivar who lays blame for delays at the courts on the frequent power outages. According to Saldivar, far beyond the heat, the court system relies on recording abilities to proceed with cases, and the interruptions in power supply have been an inconvenience.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Oscar Selgado

“It’s very disturbing; it’s a matter of great concern. It should be a matter of great concern to every Belizean, especially the timing of these blackouts. During the day here at court, we are seeing where it’s inconveniencing the judiciary and the administration of justice. These matters have to be recorded, so it’s not a situation – it’s not a frivolous thing that is just the heat, but there’s a recording system that must be operational whenever these testimonies are given in mitigation and the submissions are made.”

B.D.F. Rules Of Engagement at Sarstoon F.O.B.

Tonight, we’ll begin by revisiting the media’s most recent visit to the Sarstoon, the southernmost frontier point in Belize. Reporters were invited to join the Belize Defense Force for the inauguration of the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base. While at the location, they were also taken on a brief tour around Sarstoon Island. We’ll share the Opposition Leader’s position on what transpired elsewhere in our newscast. During the tour of the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base on Thursday, the Belize Defense Force held a briefing where Brigadier General Azariel Loria responded to numerous questions on his soldiers’ activities at the base. One of those questions was, what are troops trained to do in the event they come across persons engaged in illicit activities on Belize’s side of the river? According to the B.D.F. commander, there are protocols in place in the event a situation cannot be remedied by troops on the ground. Here is what he told us.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defense Force

“Whenever we have a situation here at the river mouth that cannot be remedied by the troops on the ground, by the commander here or the commander of the Sarstoon Village, right across, the GAF. We follow the chain of command; the patrol commander informs the operations officer at Fairweather Camp and the message is transmitted to us. We have our channels of communications open with the Guatemalan Armed Forces. We, however, do coordination with our military attaches. Thankfully we our attaches. I think there is a change, a changeover going on with the attachés. But we have our Belize attaché in Guatemala. And he does coordination. The ultimate one, if it really gets out of control is the foreign affairs ministry and they will say what to do. And, that is higher diplomacy, above the other ministries.”

Senior Courts Introduce National Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee

A National Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee has been formed and it is co-chaired by Justice of Appeal Michelle Arana, Justice Martha Alexander, and Justice Candace Nanton. The formation of the working group, formerly the National Mediation Committee, aims to enhance access to justice through affordable settlements of disputes, as it complements the full trials. The advantages of court mediation include swifter resolutions to disputes, savings on the cost of litigation, it also allows litigants the power to settle disputes. The committee is also made up of key stakeholders in education, law, media, management, religion, and medicine.

Who Qualifies to Build Bridges in Belize?

On Thursday, the Briceño administration formally opened the new Haulover Bridge, a massive concrete structure that was designed and built by Belizean contractors and engineers. While the contract to build the bridge was awarded to M&M’s Engineering, questions are being asked regarding the eligibility of other local contractors where bridge construction is concerned. Here’s how the Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Julius Espat, responded to those questions.

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development

“I’ll tell you who can bid on a bridge right now, right now, at that level. You have all the road contractors, Cisco Construction, Imer can bid right now without even thinking about it, they can pass the prequalification process. So that’s two. You have Banman, I think, Roadway can bid. You have Teichroeb, that I believe can bid. You have one of the gentlemen from Spanish Lookout that can bid. A&N can bid and now Roque can bid. So you have six, I think you might have a seventh one. And so everybody has an equal opportunity to be able to win a bid. Roque has an advantage to a certain extent because he is the brainchild of the design. So all the other contractors, when they build bridges, have to by the pre-stressed beams from him, they have to hire his engineers, they have to hire his barges. He has done a wonderful job to put himself in a position to be able to do this, but the other contractors can and so at the end of the day you look at the technical aspect of it and all of them will pass. And then you look at the financial and most of them will pass, and then from there you look at the price and whoever comes in the lowest, and not always it’s the lowest that wins, is awarded. This is the first time Roque [Matus] has received a job of this magnitude on his own. All the other bridges, all the ones he did on Caracol, he did under Cisco and under A&N, and under Banman, if I’m not mistaken. The one in Sarteneja, he did under OECC’s supervision. The one on the Coastal [Plain Highway] he did under the mandate of Imer Hernandez.”

New Haulover Bridge is Sixth Longest Bridge in Central America

This morning, vehicular traffic was diverted away from the newly built Haulover Bridge, as government officials, including Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Infrastructure Development Julius Espat, cut the ribbon on the replacement structure. It’s a project that was conceived by the previous administration but came to fruition under a People’s United Party government. Coming in at a little over thirty million dollars, the new Haulover Bridge is the longest crossing in the country and was built entirely by Belizean engineers. It’s a spectacle of skill and resourcefulness that was overseen by a woman engineer from start to finish. We begin tonight’s newscast with the inauguration of the new Haulover Bridge. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development

“It’s a wonderful bridge. It is an accomplishment for Belizean engineers and for the Government of Belize.”

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The Haulover Bridge was officially opened today, several months after a soft launch was held to declare the structure passable. It is a monolith that spans roughly five hundred meters and replaces the previous structure that stood as a relic of Belize‘s colonial past.

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH

“It’s the longest bridge that we have in Belize and that was because we had to extend the approaches to the bridge because we wanted to avoid consolidation on the approaches.

The new Haulover Bridge is designed to significantly reduce travel time, making transportation more efficient. Over the years, this crossing near the mouth of the Belize River has proven integral to urban and economic development by facilitating the movement of people, goods and services.

Julius Espat

“This new Haulover Bridge, much like its predecessor, holds momentous importance as it symbolizes resilience, strength, ingenuity and embodies the steadfast spirit of our Belizean people. Today is a day of celebration and thanks, a day to celebrate all the hard work that went into the planning design and construction of this bridge and a day to thank all who helped in getting us here.”

Built at a price tag of almost thirty-one million dollars, this well-designed bridge offers a safe crossing point which is particularly important given its location. Its design and construction has pushed the boundaries of engineering in Belize.

Meghan Martinez, M&M Engineering

“When it was found that the old and dilapidated Haulover Bridge had reached its design life and was in desperate need of replacement, the MIDH commissioned us to conduct preliminary studies and presented design options to the Government of Belize. The process of this project has encompassed several years of planning, starting with preliminary design concepts, soil explorations, surveys, peer reviews and final design. When we conducted a traffic survey in 2017, it showed us that there were over thirteen thousand vehicles crossing over the old Haulover Bridge. Today, that number is around seventeen thousand vehicles.”

Under the previous administration, projections for the cost of a new bridge were estimated at around fifty million dollars. What has been built is a superstructure that comes in well under that budget.

Evondale Moody

“This bridge cost us thirty point nine million. We got a loan from the OPEC Fund for twelve million [U.S. dollars] which is twenty-four million Belize [dollars] and so the counterpart was another six [million dollars.] We were able to build the bridge for the exact thirty point nine and the breakdown between the financing for loans is seventy percent from OFID, thirty percent from GOB.”

The Haulover Bridge is not just a physical structure that straddles the estuary of the Belize River, it enables social and economic progress.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We gather here at the mouth of the Belize River to celebrate the opening of a remarkable structure that will not only connect Belize City with the north of our country, but also bridge communities and opportunities. This new bridge spanning the Belize River here at the mouth of the Haulover Creek stands as a symbol of progress, unity and shared aspiration. It is an engineering marvel made in Belize by Belizeans and it reminds us of the power of collaboration, innovation and vision.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

What will G.O.B. do with Old Haulover Bridge?

With a new structure in place, what will the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing do with the old Haulover Bridge? It’s a question that was put to Chief Engineer Evondale Moody earlier today. Realizing savings of almost twenty million dollars, permission has been sought to use the remaining funds to relocate parts of the bridge to Cayo District where it will be reassembled to provide access across the Macal River. And what about the prime crown lands that are left in the wake of the relocation? According to Moody, government will have to decide what to do with the highly valuable real estate.

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH

“Even with that thirty point nine [million dollars], we were not able to use all of the loan funds, and so those loan funds, we have asked OFID for permission to use that to relocate the old structure. We’ve already implemented an addendum to the contract to M&M Engineering and so now they will start with the dismantling of the structure and two sections of this structure will go to Santa Familia, in the Cayo District. What happened last week is that I did a reconnaissance with Roque Matus of M&M Engineering of a proper location. There are two locations that were identified, one is along Branch Mouth that leads to the Hammock Bridge and then there is another section on the eastern side of the Macal Bridge which is known as the Trapiche Road. That one is more ideal for us to put the structure because where the Hammock Bridge is, is a good location, however the approach to the bridge, the Macal and the Mopan is adjacent to that road and once that floods the road will be inundated by floodwaters so even if we put the bridge there, we elevate it, you still would not be able to access the structure. And so, I have determined and I have informed the ministry that we will place this structure on the eastern side, on Trapiche to lead us to Santa Familia and present a bridge structure for them there.”

Isani Cayetano

“What becomes of these pieces of land now since the access is on the other end and the bridge will be removed?”

Evondale Moody:

“That’s a very good question. I have informed the minister and the CEO that at this point in time that land belongs to the Government of Belize. It’s prime land and that is one of the most expensive land and so that is a decision that will have to be made by the Government of Belize. I don’t know what they are going to do with it, but we have land on both sides, on the south side and on the north side and one of the reasons why we did not build a bigger round about here is because land acquisition here is very, very expensive. We paid three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars] per acre.”

Who is Eligible to Build New BelCan Bridge?

There are four bridges in Belize District that are in urgent need of replacement, including the Swing Bridge and BelCan Bridge in the Old Capital. Those structures are set to be replaced under the George Price Highway Upgrade Project; however, there seems to be some hostility between the Ministry of Finance and the MIDH over who will get the contract to build the new BelCan Bridge. We hear first from Chief Engineer Evondale Moody.

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH

“So the four new structures that the MIDH is looking at is BelCan, the Belize City Swing Bridge. The Burton Canal Bridge urgently needs to be changed and also Hector Creek Bridge which is in Hattieville. As the minister mentioned, those four bridges are under the George Price Highway upgrade project, and so we are liaising with JIICA who will provide grant funding for us to replace the Swing Bridge. We are awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Finance on how they want us to move with the BelCan Bridge because it’s an urgent one that also needs to be replaced because of its substructure. And then section three of the project which is from Belize City encompasses two structures which is Burton Canal and also Hector Creek.

Reporter

“Is there a sort of turf battle over the BelCan which is keeping an unsafe bridge in operation for too long?”

Julius Espat

“Turf… I don’t want to use that word, I don’t believe in that word. Our job is to make sure that when the procurement process is done, that we follow the international financial institutions’ guidelines. They are the ones that lend the money and they are the ones that establish who can and who cannot bid. We will not allow, at least if I am at the helm, anybody to bid on a project that does not follow the procurement minimum qualifications that the IFI’s establish and if anybody is mad with that, so be it, because the IFI’s establish that and we have to respect it.”

B.D.F. Commander Addresses Guatemalan Incursion in Colombia Forest Reserve

On Tuesday night, we told you that members of the Belize Territorial Volunteers came across an illegal logging site within the Columbia Forest Reserve. They reportedly came across a road that leads into the reserve from Guatemala. They also came across hundreds of logwoods along that roadway. BTV called on the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Forestry Department to act swiftly and arrest the situation. We asked Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander of the Belize Defense Force about it when we caught up with him today.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defense Force

“The Belize Defense Force as the minister mentioned some time ago during an interview, the BDF is operating in Machil Ha to maintain the territorial integrity the sovereignty of Belize, because of that and the confidence building measures the countries enter, we have the primary responsibility to patrol and ensure we are abiding by the set of regulations. The Colombia Forest Reserve is not like the Chiquibul where there is a group of environmentalist that looks after the forest. In the Colombia Forest there is none. We were trying to encourage others to try to link up to coordinate with eh Forest Department so they could comanage and we could assess. We believe that is the primary responsibility of the forest department. The Colombia Forest Reserve is vast, acres, a lot of jungle, and we have two observation post, the Santa Rosa Observation Post and Machakil Ha. We acknowledge there is a lot of illegal logging going on and that is not for this year. All the years it is the sawm thing during the dry season, that is when the villagers from across because they have villages strategically set up along the border.”