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Tomorrow, panel five Privy Councillors, Britain's highest court appeal, will hear case brought Belizean environmentalists business owners against approval Canadian-backed plans build 50-metre-high concrete hydroelectric dam rainforests small Central American country.

If completed, Chalillo dam would not only flood one world's most important wilderness areas drown irreplaceable traces ancient Maya civilization, but will put 12,000 people living downstream risk.

The project sponsor, Newfoundland-based Fortis, Inc., monopoly owner Belize's electricity utility, has close ties governments Ottawa Newfoundland, just bought up distribution utilities Ontario, Alberta British Columbia.

Two years ago, Fortis rammed approval project through using flawed environmental assessment secretly paid Canada's foreign aid arm, Canadian International Development Agency.

This deal part CIDA's private-sector branch "CIDA, Inc.," whose real mission appears "poverty" – alleviation some Canada's largest most powerful companies – Halliburtons Canada.

In papers submitted court, Fortis now admits taxpayer-sponsored report wrong about geological foundations underpinning dam.

The report said dam would built on solid granite, when, fact, site made fractured sandstones shales – dam designed on basis CIDA report could collapse cause disaster downstream.

When CIDA, Inc. confronted with this, other flaws its report, last year on CBC's Disclosure, agency denied did anything wrong.

Now dam under construction, consequences CIDA's flawed assessment are becoming evident.

The low flow river, reaching just knee deep rainy season, makes apparent dam will not provide fraction electricity CIDA's report projects.

Contractors site have found granite site crush an ingredient make concrete dam.

In addition, locals say seismic tremors caused 20-metre deep gaping hole open site, construction workers drilled through water flowing underground.

Experts warn could drain dam's reservoir before filled.

And, most troubling, continued uncertainty about dam's foundations has raised spectre dam collapse, potential liability Fortis Canadian government. Regrettably, CIDA continues bury its head sand, Fortis seems undeterred.

That's because Fortis seems protected.

A 50-year contract with Belizean government guarantees company least $200 million U.S. electricity sales dam, forcing dam's high costs onto Belizean ratepayers.

Already, Belizeans pay highest electricity rates any country Central America – nearly two times more than their neighbours Guatemala Mexico, even though half their electricity imported low cost Mexico.

Tomorrow, Privy Council will asked stop dam's construction until proper studies are completed Belizeans' right fair impartial public hearing upheld.

But Canada should not wa Privy Council's decision live up its responsibilities repudiate past mistakes.

"Poverty alleviation" should not cloak lopsided contracts provide huge profits Canadian company endanger further impoverish people Belize.

The new prime minister will off good start if minister international development ends CIDA's complicity with Fortis, recalls its flawed taxpayer-sponsored report works protect people Belize, well tapirs, scarlet macaws jaguars are risk unjustifiable dam.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. an environment activist author whose articles have appeared New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, Esquire, Washington Post numerous other publications.