Ottawa: On December 3rd a panel of five Privy Councillors will hear arguments about a Canadian dam project in the small central American country of Belize. The Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for many Commonwealth countries, including Belize, and many Caribbean and African nations.
The challenge to the ramming through the dam approval by Newfoundland-based Fortis Inc, in violation of Belizean environmental law, is the first-ever environmental law challenge in Belizean history. The court will be asked to overturn the approval and order fundamental studies of the dam's safety and impacts on wildlife and ancient archaeological sites.
At stake is the fate of the controversial proposed 50 meter-high �Chalillo� hydro-electric dam that scientists say would threaten rare and endangered animal species as well as placing downstream communities at risk from dam collapse. The dam is being built by a Chinese contractor for Fortis Inc, which is the monopoly owner and operator of Belize�s electricity system. CIDA, Inc, paid $500,000 for the dam�s environmental review which Fortis submitted to Belizean authorities in order to justify construction of the project. This study, conducted by the Toronto-based subsidiary of the UK engineering firm, AMEC, contains misleading and false information that is potentially life-threatening.
At a press briefing today in Ottawa, Newfoundland actor, satirist and environmental activist, Greg Malone and Sierra Club of Canada Executive Director, Elizabeth May, displayed photos and maps of the site that will form part of the evidence before the Privy Council.
This evidence includes proof that Fortis/BECOL and AMEC removed fault lines in geology maps. The maps submitted to the Belizean government for approval of the project include one map where fault lines next to the dam site were removed. Comparison with the original map upon which these maps are based shows that the Fortis/AMEC map does not include these prominent faults. See www.stopfortis.org/GeologyDistorted11_03.html for a comparison of these maps.
�It is absolutely extraordinary that a Canadian government funded study on behalf of a Canadian private sector dam would be premised on fraud,� said Greg Malone. �This places the lives of people downstream at risk.�
�We have been asking CIDA for years to assist in a thorough, transparent review of the environmental impact of allowing a hydro-dam in one of the world�s most amazing habitats for tapirs, jaguars and scarlet macaws,� said Elizabeth May. �Now, the failure of the Canadian government to act will be subject to a review by the Lords of the Privy Council.�
Sierra Club of Canada is a member of the Save the Macal River Valley Coalition (www.stopfortis.org) which includes the Belizean Alliance of Conservation NGOs, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Probe International.
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For more information:
Elizabeth May, Sierra Club of Canada, 613-241-4611
Grainne Ryder Probe International reachable in Bangkok 662-691-0718
For information on the Privy Council hearings and to arrange media in London, contact Simon Forrester on: Phone: 02079215443, Cell: 07932755515, Email: [email protected]
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