B.A.S. Raises Concerns About Proposed Vulcan Mining Operations

Another controversial proposal that is being made by a foreign investor is the Vulcan project which has been met with strong objections from various quarters, including residents of Gales Point Village, the conservation community and several ministers of government.  In speaking on the matter, the Executive Director of the Belize Audubon Society told News Five that the company intends to ferry aggregates by ship from a location near Gales Point.  Numerous concerns have been raised regarding the possible environmental damages to be sustained from mining activity within that area.

Amanda Acosta

Amanda Acosta, Executive Director, Belize Audubon Society

“Vulcan is proposing to purchase White Ridge property and I am not sure if that has gone through but that was there proposal to but White Ridge property which is on the Coastal Road and the community closest is Gales Point. The proposal as we’ve been informed is for mining of aggregate.  So it would be a similar but different operation to what is at Gracie Rock and we’ve all see how that hill has, in essence, been eaten out. It is no value added. It’s literally the production, blowing up and producing aggregate. Mining, by itself, has concerns in that it does and can affect ground water. It does use water for the washing of the aggregates and so, again, there is a very valid concern. Gales Point has problems with their water sources. There are concerns on the coastal side of it.  This company, what they have done in Mexico is that they do not truck the aggregate, they have a marine transport of it. So there proposal would be following their Mexican counterpart or their company in Mexico. They would then build a pier. Again, how long will that pier be?  Will it involve dredging?  We don’t know those details, but building a pier to have a large cargo sized vessel in which a conveyor belt will then put the materials directly into the vessel, frequency of the boats, how much time will they be coming in and out, the transport part of it.  We don’t know any of those details, but the concerns are there.”