And while our team was in Orange Walk, we took a trip to the New River, which some residents have been complaining is starting to emit a foul stench. It's a problem that one restaurant owner says he has seen for the past forty years, and one that the authorities can or will not fix.
And as usual, most of the blame is ascribed to ASR/BSI who residents believe are dumping into the river. Well today, BSI got ahead of the situation by reiterating their commitment to protecting the environment. In a release they say that they monitor the condition of the river regularly and submit the data to the department of environment.
The release continues with BSI expressing solidarity and support for DOE and those working to identify the root case and long term solutions. They say they understand that there are a myriad of causes for river pollution, and that the river water they use for the sugar process and plant cleaning is treated and tested before returned.
BSI has also taken various measures including installing aerators in its cooling ponds to improve the quality of the water re-entering the river; agreeing to monitor the water quality, and more.
