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Why? Because week Fortis received what looks like final approval proceed with controversial Chalillo project. dam will flood something like 10 square kilometres Belizean forest, has environmentalists – Canada elsewhere – an uproar.

Trying make sense Chalillo dam struggle itself. players change on regular basis; are least many counter-reports actual impact reports; dark allegations corruption payoffs are thick on ground.

The project has been works more than decade, with companies rotating out catbird seat on fairly regular basis. For example, Fortis obtained rights Duke Energy. latter company opted out, part, because pressure various groups, apparently deciding fiscal discretion better part environmental valour.

This time around, however, dam looks like done deal. A legal challenge construction Chalillo dam failed week Privy Council London (the former British colony's final court appeal).

In 3-2 spl decision, Privy Council said process followed Belize acceptable. country could go ahead with dam, much chagrin dug-in environmentalists everywhere, such Elizabeth May Sierra Club Canada.

There much cynicism tireless environmental opposition Chalillo project. For example, one denies citizens tiny Belize (population 250,000) need more electrical power drive economic growth, nor does anyone deny Belizeans currently pay among highest electricity rates Latin America.

So where power come from? Too many environmentalists have knee-jerk response such questions, neatly shown Chalillo project.

Such people sidestep whole issue sourcing electrical power, say instead Belize could get power attractive rates somewhere else. Maybe Mexico, maybe diesel, maybe burning trash. Just not dam, apparently.

But buying power Mexico, example, merely passing environmental buck. Does anyone truly believe electrical power production Mexico is, definition, greener than hydroelectric would Belize? cynical extreme pretend stopping one project Belize you have solved an environmental problem if you are really doing passing problem on next power supplier up road. But kind cynicism rife environmental circles.

Critics do, however, have one fair point this. captured dissenting opinion week's Privy Council decision. opposing officials said environmental impact assessment (EIA) Chalillo project, which paid Canadian International Development Agency tune half-million dollars, "was so flawed important errors about geology site" unacceptable.

Why flawed? Because, according Privy Council, EIA said Chalillo site geology different than actually is. What originally said granite bedrock now seems more likely predominantly sandstone bedrock. While latter capable supporting dam, will require changes dam design – and, thanks CIDA, creates risks citizens Belize were not informed until late approval cycle.

In effect, Belize government used imprimatur Canadian money (via CIDA) push through approvals on Chalillo project. After all, Canada not corrupt country, so any evaluation paid with Canadian money likely good one. But is, course, flawed logic. Minions CIDA did not write Chalillo EIA; merely paid favoured engineering contractor it.

But history international aid support hydroelectric projects not auspicious. As William Easterly ably chronicles excellent book The Elusive Quest Growth: Economists' Adventures Misadventures Tropics, First World countries' interventions developing regions too often warp economic gravity. They provide easy economic political cover dubious projects need further fleshing out.

The result, course, opposite what needed. Such projects become playthings interest groups, domestic abroad – citizens regions like Belize are merely an irritating economic afterthought.