Government Halts New Extraction Permits for North Stann Creek River in 2026

Cabinet also addressed environmental concerns along the North Stann Creek River. It was decided that government will not issue new sand and gravel extraction permits for 2026 and has ordered a technical reassessment in the second quarter of the year to determine safe extraction limits.  For years, the Southern Workers Union has lobbied for a halt to excavation activities, arguing the practice threatens communities and ecosystems in the area.  We take you back to 2024 when the union’s then president, Mason Lewis, had a handful of protestors show up at the riverside appealing for the suspension.

Mason Lewis, Southern Workers Union Member: “Year after year for the past fifty years this place has been dredged, extraction of sand and moreover the painful reality is that many parts of Dangriga need landfill. Much poor people can’t afford a load of sand to fill their yard. In the past as our senior members from the union can attest to, previous mayors have assisted the people with the sand at a minimum cost. And poor people could better enjoy their yard and have a better way of life as they live through their lives. We need the help of GOB, the Government of Belize to listen to the cry of the poor people. Dangriga is the only district in this country that has a river that runs through this town to the Caribbean Sea and yet we are behind when it comes to tourism. Not one activity, no activity is taking place, only on one particular season on the 19th where the beach is not being occupied and not being invested in so that we could enjoy some of the tourism money as the government would call it. The primary objective is to develop the beach. The sand must remain on the beach. We ask the business people to help us come and develop the beach because you are the guys with the finances. You could help us develop this beach and you make your profit. So it is a two way street. So if you come and destroy the beach taking away the sand the the poor people have no employment.” 

In conclusion of Cabinet’s brief this week, Belizeans are being encouraged to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu virus.