Category: Environment

On Sunday, residents of Placencia Village acted when some property owners ignored a D.O.E. order to remove some breakwater along the beach. The Department of Environment had given them until March seventh to take it down. Three days after the deadline, over a dozen residents showed up and dismantled the wall themselves. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on this issue affecting coastal and island communities in Belize.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On Sunday morning, residents gathered at a beachfront property to dismantle a breakwater that posed an environmental threat. The Department of Environment had sent a letter on February twenty-seventh to the property owners, stating that no proper assessments or studies had been done to prove the breakwater’s effectiveness. The letter also noted that the owners had not consulted with relevant authorities, including the DOE, before erecting it. The DOE ordered the owners to remove the structure by March seventh. When they didn’t comply, the residents acted themselves.

Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia Village

“The issue we are having is that people are not respecting these letters given by these different entities. So, villagers were aware of our attempts through public meetings, and we expressed people have these concerns, ask us. We do what we can. People just got tired and enforcement is extremely lacking. We wait forever for action to be taken. Residents just went out, had enough yesterday and went out.”

Tensions flared briefly between residents and the police when a few men tried to move a massive boulder. Amateur video captured a police officer pushing a resident causing him to fall. His fellow villagers rushed to his aid.

Warren Garbutt

“It is evident, as soon as these structures go up we see the effects of them. The erosion is rapid and especially to the south and changes to the beach in the north as well. It does not obstruct people passing as much, but the issue is the rapid erosion cause by the structures. That is why whenever we see them going up I personally go out to these owners and ask them to go through the proper procedure of applying to the physical planning unit, because it is on public beach.”

Belize’s beachfront properties, with their paradise-like appeal, attract investors from all over. However, these developments often cause conflicts between residents and property owners. Placencia isn’t alone in this struggle. In January, we reported a similar incident in Caye Caulker, where the village council dismantled a fence built in the beach reserve. At the time, Chairlady, Seleny Villanueva-Pott, shared her thoughts on the matter.

Seleny Villanueva- Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker Village

“Many people do not adhere to the process, and they just go in and do their stuff. We really need to put a stop to that. If we just sit down and watch, we will be taken over. And the island has been pressuring us on numerous occasions to claim what is rightfully for the people of Caye Caulker.”

Belize Rural South Area Representative, Andre Perez, mentioned that Ambergris Caye is also facing controversial developments that could harm the environment.

Andre Perez, Former Area Rep, Belize Rural South

“It is not only Caye Caulker, it is Ambergris Caye and even down in Placencia we are having these issues as well where we have the private investors coming in and believing these areas are just designed for their guest. We cannot. We can make that clear out there that the beach or sea front is public access anywhere.”

In Placencia, Chairman Garbutt explained that although residents still had access, environmental concerns prompted action. He emphasized that the village welcomes investors but urges them to consult with the relevant authorities during construction.

Warren Garbutt

“The action yesterday was geared towards one specific property, but it is a huge mess, the entire peninsula and it is not only Placencia being impacted, it is the entire peninsula.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

In the rural community of San Roman, Stann Creek District, a new rudimentary water system is being installed, bringing hope and excitement to the residents. This essential project aims to provide clean and safe drinking water, significantly improving the quality of life for the community. With the installation of this system, San Roman will no longer have to rely on potentially contaminated water sources, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for all. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the following story.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Rudimentary water systems are crucial for providing clean and safe drinking water, which is essential for health and well-being. Without these systems, communities like San Roman might have to use contaminated water sources, leading to dangerous waterborne diseases. These basic water systems are key to improving the quality of life and supporting sustainable development in rural areas.

Dr. Olusola Oladeji, Health & Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF

“This community has been suffering, [has] had issues with its water for the past fourteen years. We need to commend the effort of the government to ensure that, in partnership with UNICEF and other partners, to ensure that this has become a reality.  This is a demonstration of government and UNICEF’s partnership in supporting the government in terms of the achievement of the sustainable development goals.  Access to water is not only about water, access to water affects health also because the commonest cause of death among children is actually diarrhea and acute respiratory infections which is actually due to [limited] access, when there is no water or poor sanitation.”

By cutting down on diseases like cholera, dysentery, and other stomach illnesses, these systems make a big difference in public health. Regular well testing also spots harmful contaminants like bacteria, nitrates, heavy metals, and chemicals that can seep into the water supply.

Charles Galvez, Coordinator, Rural Development

“When this government took office, there was a well that was drilled a little before this government took office thereabout, in the old site and that was considered the new well.  When I came on three and a half years ago as the coordinator for the Rural Water Supplies & Sanitation Unit just about when we were supposed to celebrate the inauguration of that, connecting that to the system, I said to myself, and I spoke to the minister and my minister and I said, you know what, I am not comfortable enough, based on my research of the history or the data collected from that well.  Although it was a new well, I needed to do some pump testing of that well.”

By catching and fixing issues early, pump testing keeps the water system safe. Having reliable water sources can really boost local economies by helping agriculture, livestock, and small businesses thrive. It also saves people time and effort from fetching water, so they can focus on more productive activities.

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Representative, Stann Creek West

“Water is an essence of life, we have to be able conserve it to make sure that we have it for generations to come.  So today is a significant milestone and I am happy that I was able to become a part of what’s happening in Santa Rosa/San Roman today.”

Building and maintaining these systems often involve community participation, fostering a sense of ownership and cooperation among residents. Simple, low-cost water systems are easier to maintain and repair, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience against disruptions.

Venancio Itch, Chair, Santa Rosa/San Roman Water Board

“This project is not just about pipes, pumps and reservoirs, it is about life, health and the future of our communities. Your commitment to quality and sustainability ensures that this system will serve for generations to come.  I want to also express my heartfelt appreciation to our local leaders, community members and volunteers who have played an essential role in advocating for this project and ensuring its success.  Your voices, cooperation, patience have been invaluable throughout this journey.  Access to clean water is a fundamental human right and today, we take a huge step forward for improving public health, sanitation and overall quality of life.  This system will not only provide safe drinking water, but will also support agriculture, businesses and daily household needs.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

The frequent downpours in Belize City have left many streets in dire need of repair. Today, a resident from the Pen Road area reached out, asking the Belize City Council to assist those living in Waller Alley. This alley, located off Pen Road across from the basketball court, has turned into a large pool of water due to the constant rains. Jehvon Ramclam, a local resident, mentioned that schoolchildren have had to get creative to navigate the flooded alley until it’s fixed. Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner acknowledged the issue, stating that the rains have taken a toll on the infrastructure. He assured reporters that the council is working hard to address the flooded streets, potholes, and drains as quickly as possible.

Jehvon Ramclam, Resident, Pen Road

“If you notice, the hole is down there somewhere, the hole is through there, all the way there, so too. In the morning, when the, um, we got young pregnant women live through there too. When the pregnant women come home from school, they have to walk barefooted. They mess up, they really mess up. Then, we got people back there, we do here all kind of things. Nobody want to walk through that, if you go do their hair or nothing. So, we really need help.”

Marion Ali

“What do they do to navigate through the mud and the swamp?”

Jehvon Ramclam

“They walk, they walk through it, they don’t have no next choice, no next option. If you notice over there, there’s one rubber boots over there, so.”

Marion Ali

“So they leave their shoes and their rubber boots there and walk?”

Jehvon Ramclam

“They leave their rubber boots there, and then they put on their tennis when they reach out, go to school and whatnot. When they come back, that is the same thing. They have to take off their shoes and walk through it.”

Marion Ali

“How many families would you say live back there?”

Jehvon Ramclam

“About ten, and ih goh way da back cause da wa alley. Way da back ih goh. Yes ma’am.”

Marion Ali

“And you live back here too?”

Jehvon Ramclam

“ Partly. I live cross the street but da like I live back ya because I deh back ya nearly every day.”

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“ We are completely looking at how we change the way we address drains maintenance, chopping of grass, potholes, we know that the current system that we have in place has not worked, does not work, um, for the residents of the city, and, and, and we are very aware of that and so  we are working on a new system which will be  really powered by GIS  where we’ll be really  dividing up the entire city north side south side into different grids we call them grids. 24 such grids have been identified and what we’ll be doing we’ll be having dedicated teams for each grid so you’ll have a chopping team, you will have pothole teams, you will have, um, drainage maintenance team within the scope of each grid and they will be dedicated to that area. So, it provides accountability. That, um, if I am in this area, I become familiar with the terrain, um, I come, I become familiar with the residents in the area and it is more responsive.  But again, one of our priority areas is drainage. That is key and so within the scope of this year, we’ll be ensuring that we focus on infrastructure, potholes, decent streets, ensuring that the drains are clean and maintained in a timely fashion. That is very important for us.”

Reporter

“What about sidewalks?”

Bernard Wagner

“Sidewalks again, everything is on the table, safety of our residents are always important. We’re not only worry about the motorists, but we always worry about the pedestrians, the kids. And so, if we have to put sidewalks in certain areas, we certainly will look at that.”

Today, a diverse group of industry representatives and companies that use chemicals came together for a workshop focused on improving chemical management. The goal? To develop a National Strategy that ensures Belize meets its commitments to four key environmental conventions on managing chemicals that can turn into pollutants. The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change brought in consultant Stephen Sangster to lead the event. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai emphasized the importance of proper chemical management for a healthy environment and hinted at upcoming legislation to regulate this area. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Today, representatives from various agencies and industrial companies gathered for a workshop that examined how Belize handles chemical waste. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai explained that once chemicals are used, they turn into waste. It’s then up to the Department of the Environment to make sure this waste is managed properly, so it doesn’t harm the environment or our health.

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer

“Chemical has the capacity to create significant environmental harm and health-related harm. So it is important for the Department of Environment to put measures in place to be able to reduce the negative impact that chemicals could have on the environment and to human health. Today we’re here because we’ve hired a consultant to develop the base tool that we would need to guide our direction forward. So we have key institutions here because chemicals stretch across all sectors. Chemicals are used at the household level, at the health sector, in the agriculture sector, by academia, by the private sector, so it involves all sectors.”

Belize is already recognized as a trailblazer in the Caribbean and Latin America. To keep up the momentum, the Ministry has brought on board Stephen Sangster, a Chemistry Lecturer from U.B., as a consultant. His mission? To lead the charge in creating a solid framework for new legislation that ensures proper chemical management.

Stephen Sangster, Consultant, Department of the Environment

“Belize is actually one of the leaders in the region when it comes to implementing these agreements, We have a lot of laws and frameworks in place. We do have some reports that we’ve done but there’s more that we can do.”

Sangster emphasizes that as environmentalists and the legal team work on updating the legislation, it’s crucial to launch an education campaign. This campaign would teach people how to properly handle and manage the chemicals they use every day.

Stephen Sangster

“One of the main things that Belize has done is phased out a lot of the very persistent chemicals that stain the environment for long periods of time. We’re making sure we’re not producing it in country, that they don’t come into country, but there are a few that we’re managing as we go. Things like mercury and DDT that we use to control malaria, those chemicals are useful in our current climate but what we want to do is make sure that everybody is aware of how to best manage the use and day-to-day interactions with these chemicals and how do we dispose of it when we’re done with it, making sure that it’s not leaking into our environment. There is a lot of information that these agreements have provided some technical assistance in how do we manage these chemicals.”

Mai points out that although Belize has a solid track record in managing chemical waste, there are new areas the global community is aiming to improve. That’s where we need to direct our attention.

Anthony Mai

“Currently there are some major international conventions that Belize is a signatory to. For example, there’s the Basel Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention, the Minamata Convention and recently there’s the Global Framework on Chemicals Management. All of these conventions are important. All of them look at chemicals from a different perspective and require different obligations from our country.”

Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet, said that once the National Strategy is finalized, he will urge the Cabinet to take the necessary actions to implement it.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“I will be taking some of these information papers and memorandum papers to Cabinet for their approval and those that will become the Act and Regulations will also have to go to the House for acceptance by the House of Representatives for them to become the Acts, but very importantly for us is that we comply but also because compliance is also providing human wellness that we need in our country, both for agriculture and human health, and in the broad sense, also for the environment.”

The Department of the Environment keeps a close eye on things, and when they spot violations and find those responsible, they don’t hesitate to take legal action against the offenders. Marion Ali for News Five.