On Friday, Jan. 18, Probe International, a premier international environmental agency, announced that BACONGO will be seeking a legal injunction against Fortis, to stop the construction of the Chalillo dam. According to the release, "Fortis has started clearing of the forest at the dam site on the Macal River, even though it does not have proper authorization from Belizean authorities."

The Guardian‘s investigations reveal that road clearing works have commenced at the site. Head of the Dept. of the Environment, Ismael Fabro, told the Guardian that a conditional approval has been given for the construction of Chalillo, until an environmental compliance plan is signed, at which time they would be given full approval. Under the conditional approval, BEL has no authority to do anything at the site.

CEO of BEL, Lyn Young, in a telephone interview informed us that BEL has not begun any physical work at the site. He suggested that the Ministry of Works might be working on the road to Caracol, the Mayan site that is in the immediate vicinity.

Chief Engineer at the Ministry of Works, Cadet Henerson, stated categorically that the ministry is doing nothing in the area. Surveys were conducted about two years ago and tenders are now being issued for the design and construction of a road. He reiterated that the ministry was not doing any physical work in the area.

Our western correspondent has confirmed that works have commenced in the area, so the obvious question is: who is repsonsible for it? BACONGO is convinced that it is BEL and will in the next few days seek an injunction in the courts to stop them.