And the ministry is also dealing with water quality issues in Alta Vista, Stann Creek District. The residents explained that their water was being affected because of some land clearing on the property where dam is located. The minister explained that they've already started investigating the matter since it arose a month ago, and said that several teams have visited the location. He told more about what they've found out so far.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
"He has been planting teak and he's getting into coconuts and so he was clearing some land to be able to plant his coconuts. The report we got is that he has 14,000 coconuts ready to plant, he already has the seedlings and he has a large nursery with teak trees which are ready to plant. We were also informed that he's well known within the community of Alta Vista, apparently he has been in the community for some time, as I mentioned 16 years, but the report says that he had hired someone with a machine to clear the land to make a road actually to give access to some of the farmers in Alta Vista but because of his absence, the person went beyond what he was required to do, caused some erosion, with the rains, water went into the dam where water is collected for feeding and providing water to Alta Vista. We're also made to understand that half of the residents of Alta Vista get water from this dam. The dam is in the owner's property so it is in his property, but it is owned and managed by the village council and the village water board. So what the Department of Environment did is because he needed environmental clearance because of the slope, the steepness, he was given a stop order and in the meantime, I think the water is now clearing up. But we asked him to collaborate with the community and he has promised to purchase a large water tank to be able to fill up the water from Billy Barquedier to supply water for the community. My understanding also is also from the people who manage Billy Barquedier that half of the supply of water for Alta Vista comes from that dam and the other half comes from Billy Barquedier. So it seems as if during the dry season that the water supply from that dam goes to minimal level and it is not good water. So it might be now that this has triggered for us to look at an alternative permanent water source."
