Earlier in the news, you heard from Minister Andre Perez. We also asked him about another looming environmental concern: large concentrations of Sargassum gathering along the beachlines. Perez, who is part of the Sargassum task force, gave us an update on the situation. He says they need to collect the sargassum before it washes up and starts to rot on the shore.
Andre Perez, Area Representative Belize Rural South
"The issue about the sargassum started very early this year. Last year was one of it's worst and by all accounts we have seem to be going into that next year again. Look this issue on whether we convert into into fertilizer or sarga blocks, whether it is going to fulfilled or whether it is going to be for filling or whether it is going to be for whatever it is used for there are many plans. We have many projects that we have been entertaining and so many people coming in to offer us the different ways to use it. Ways for energy which is another one it is a good thing. We have enough I am more than convinced we have more than enough but the key issue that we must understand here and I think that is where we need to share the fact that the information is being misconstrued because we are blinded by the smell the flooding but the fact is no one has yet that rightful magic recipe or that to say this is how we collect it because the only way to collect the sargassum to eliminate it is to collect it at sea. We cannot let it reach to the shores because then it starts to rot so this is the golden question we must solve that we must find ways to collect it. Now it is spread across the entire coast the entire region this is where no one has come to that definitive and we have done it at all angles we have done it. We try it and it works in a certain area but we have to consider the entire coast and that is the issue we are discussing so it is not we are ignoring it we are dealing with it it is a constant battle from the council to the resorts the resorts spends thousands of dollars every month on labor costs to clean up their beaches so to answer your question yes it is possible to be doing it but how do you collect it? You collect sargassum at sea then you can handle it in a way to dry it without rotting."
