ALERT//Belize decision

[Guest guest]

> Fingers crossed that we win this one - it is a landmark case. All prayers

> would be helpful at this time.

>

> Wednesday, August 13, 2003 3:05 AM

> TOMMMORROW: Belize decision

>

>

> Privy Council to Rule on Injunction for Belize Dam tommorrow (Wed):

> Update to follow

>

> Wednsday, August 13 at 9:45am London time, the committe of the Privy

> Council will announce its decision on the injunction application to stop

> construction of the Chalillo dam, pending a hearing set for December 3

> and 4. We will send an update as soon as we know the results of the

> decision.

>

> This is a momentous decision: the first time in the 500 year history of

> the court that the Privy Council has pronounced on an environmental

> case, and the first time they've been asked to rule on whether they have

> the power to grant injunctions. The government of Belize has said that

> it would abide by the Privy Council's decision, despite a recent Act

> passed by the legislature that purports to make the Chalillo dam legal

> " notwithstanding " the decisions of any courts. The Act is

> unconstitutional, according to arguments by Belize Alliance of

> Conservation NGOs (BACONGO), and two business owners who joined the

> case, Phyllis Dart and Godsman Ellis.

>

> Attorneys for the government of Belize and the company backing the dam

> construction (Fortis, Inc. of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada) made a

> case for legal technicalities that they said would bar the court from

> granting an injunction. These would not, however, stop the court from

> blocking construction in December, following the hearing of the full

> case against environmental approval of the dam. In December, the court

> will be asked to overturn the approval and order fundamental studies of

> the dam's safety and impacts on wildlife and ancient archaeological

> sites.

>

> Please feel free to contact me (202) 289-2388 for any background

> information to put together a story tommorrow. Press only, contact

> David Wolfe or Lois Young, attorneys for BACONGO, for reactions to the

> decision.

>

> David Wolfe, Matrix Law, (44) 7740948536 (mobile)

> Lois Young, lawyer for BACONGO, Belize, (501) 610 1052 (mobile)

>

> All the best,

> Ari

>

> Ari Hershowitz

> Director, BioGems Project, Latin America

>

>