Earlier on, you heard the BHA president talking about travel in Belize.
Well, BWS will be assisting those areas most travelled to by both tourists and Belizeans. Enhancing the water service on the islands of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye is on their to-do list along with other projects that BWS' new chairman, Cornelio Acosta, explained.
He also mentioned, though, that COVID has hit them hard and their amnesty program, which prevents consumers from being disconnected, has put them in arrears of almost 3 million dollars.
Cornelio Acosta, Chairman, BWS
"Our plans are to increase the sewage expansion and also the potable water for the entire country. Right now we have Minister Espat who came up and ask for assistance with Armenia, because you know Armenia has been a trouble ground year and year after where the drought comes in and then there is not enough water, then we have to shuttle water from Belmopan to Armenia. It's a costly venture for the government, so they've ask us to assist in finding a solution for them. We have been doing so and we should have a proposal ready for them. We've also been approached to increase the water supply in San Pedro and Caye Caulker. Those are 2 key areas for tourism. Currently we are in the expansion mode there, so we will be increasing the capabilities there. Unfortunately Covid has impacted BWS also. We've seen where we have arrears annually amount to about $200.000-300.000 now amounting to almost 3 million dollars. We have a new program an amnesty program on going right now. Thankfully we've seen a good uptake about 15% in about 3 weeks which is good, but it has impacted our revenues. Also we've seen a decrease in terms for IFIs, so we are looking at new opportunities where revenue could come into the company and where we could explore for future financing."
Acosta was appointed as chairman of BWS back in January of this year.
