Mayor Trapp on Fire For Alleged Overreach

San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp is under fire for allegedly circumventing the authority of central government to green light the construction of two soak-aways in the Macal Park. The mayor reportedly granted authorization to Mick Fleming, of Guava Limb Restaurant, to address an improperly constructed septic tank. Well, both the Department of Environment and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing wrote to Mayor Trapp disapproving his authorization. The DOE, in a letter dated February fifth says “The San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council should have consulted with the DOE on this matter before such permission was granted. The matter could have been jointly investigated and addressed favorably between the DOE, the council, Public Health Department and the Central Building Authority”. DOE noted that it will be addressing the matter with Mr. Fleming to ensure that the use of the public space is not diminished.  M.I.D.H. in its letter to Mayor Trapp, dated February first, wrote, “a site visit was conducted… and the inspectors found two soak-aways that were constructed entirely. The contents of your letter are  contrary to the Belize Building Act, which only allows the Technical Manager of the San Ignacio/ Santa Elena Unit or the Director of the Central Building Authority to approve such construction”.  In a report elsewhere in the media, Mayor Trapp stated that he sees pure political mischief in those letters.