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On heels announcement, well reports Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), which will buy Chalillo's power, would seek least 10% hike rates, husband wife team environmentalists, George Candy Gonzalez, contacted media about their lingering concerns over dam.

While BEL BECOL say dam good Belizeans, Gonzalezes argue bad. They contend risks associated with Chalillo are too great, Belizeans would end up paying considerable money dam – far more than are being told.

"We're concerned about health people; lives people. We're concerned none these issues have been given kind importance human life deserves. That, us, most important than cost," said Candy Gonzalez, who sat on National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC} when majority its members approved Chalillo project.

Speaking with Amandala today, said are concerned about health safety river community.

The Gonzalezes say dam now place, think people need know what negative impacts developmental project are likely be. One concern raised potential impact river's ecology, which claim would hurt district's river tourism sector.

"The problem place where dam being put. are lot better places put dam without costing so much sacrificing so much . . ." Mrs. Gonzalez continued, adding structure sits on fault line. possible an earthquake rock area again, causing dam break, she added.

They maintain possibility dam breaking flooding due excessive rains even hurricane, which say would cause devastating effects communities downstream.

The couple further says Mexican power bagasse cogeneration are other power options should have been pursued more aggressively than Chalillo. Instead, BEL pushed ahead been pursued more aggressively than project, undertaken its sister company. Both BEL BECOL are subsidiaries' Fortis Inc. Canada, though Social Security Board has 25% stake BEL.

"According third master agreement, state company does not have have liability insurance. If anything were happen, nobody would have recourse Fortis Government," said Candy Gonzalez. "We felt important them what stated Environmental Compliance Plan – is, develop an emergency preparedness plan before start generating electricity."

The Gonzalezes say already problem with mercury levels fish area, have written health authorities expressing their concerns.

In an interview with Amandala last week, BEL's CEO BECOL director, Lynn Young, told us have done can mitigate against environmental impacts Chalillo, though he conceded issue mercury being found fish real concern.

According Young, tests done on river fish area even before Chalillo constructed indicated levels mercury above internationally acceptable limits. He further said people area don't eat very much fish river, anyway.

The Gonzalezes say speak two groups Cayo District, where dam located. groups are WeBAD – We Belizeans Against Dam, BELPO – Belize Institute. Environmental Law Policy. According George Gonzalez, name WeBAD inspired writings Amandala about UBAD – United Black Association Development. group about 20 locals, including tour guides who host talk show San Ignacio, Cayo.

BELPO group about 20 professionals, according Candy Gonzalez. registered an NGO 1995 member BACONGO, Belize Alliance Conservation NGO’s, which fought BECOL over Chalillo way Privy Council, but lost.

Gonzalez had sat on NEAC BACONGO. couple are naturalized Belizeans, originally United States.