OCEANA, SATIIM et al. to follow up on Sarstoon oil spill

A team of environmental watchdogs led by OCEANA inBelizeis headed to the site of a waterborne oil spill along theSarstoonRiveron Wednesday.  As we’ve reported, a tanker traveling toward Chahal, Alta Verapaz,Guatemalacrashed and overturned while en route to that location.  The crude that the bulk liquid carrier was transporting began leaking from the truck and made its way into theSarstoonRiverwhich descends fromGuatemala.  There is no indication at present whether that discharge will stream down to the Belize/Guatemala border in the coming days; however, an environmental organization known as CALAS has called on Guatemalan authorities to respond to the oil spill.  Wednesday’s expedition upstream will include personnel from the Sarstoon and Temash Institute for Indigenous Management, as well as the local media.  SATIIM, whose rangers closely monitor activities within the Sarstoon andTemashNational Park, is particularly concerned about the possible damages an oil spill can cause in the area of the southernmost national park inBelize. News Five will have more on this developing story in our newscast on Wednesday.