Government Defends Land Purchase for New Belmopan University Hospital

Amid an increase in public scrutiny, today the Government of Belize held a press conference to flesh out the details of the decision surrounding the purchase of the new land for the Belmopan University Hospital. A team comprised of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Health CEO Julio Sabido, Deputy Director of Health Services Lizeth Bell, Lands Commissioner Talbert Brackett, and an expert in wastewater treatment from the Belize Water Services (BWS) went into great detail on various aspects of the decision. Inside the heavily guarded police room, the technical experts went to great lengths to delve into the intricacies of the decision to move the hospital and identify a suitable replacement. The experts explained that a cost comparison was done to determine whether it would have been cost-effective to develop the UB land or purchase a more accessible parcel. In addition, the panel presented the method that was used to value the properties, which had already been subdivided. However, while much was clarified in the hours-long conference, tonight, we touch on one of the major points of controversy surrounding the land’s proximity to sewage treatment ponds, which are located 4.8 acres away.  BWS Chief Operations Officer Sanjay Keshwani disseminated the concern about the ponds and explained that they don’t pose a health risk.

While residents of a nearby community claim the ponds emit a foul odor, Keshwani denied that the ponds create a foul stench. He also weighed in on whether the flooding could create some issues if the water rises above the ponds. 

Last Friday, President of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union Andrew Baird questioned whether an epidemiologist report was done to determine whether the ponds would pose any health risk to the hospital’s future staff. However, Deputy Director of Health Services Lizeth Bell explained that Baird may not have been aware what such a report would be utilized for. 

The ministry says the foul odor may be the result of operations from a nearby brewery.