SEINE BIGHT, Stann Creek District Thurs. Oct. 21, 2021– Yesterday, residents of Seine Bight village took to the streets in front of a site on which construction of a gas station is taking place within their village.

Last week, Chief Environmental Officer, Martin Alegria told local media that the developer met all the criteria for environmental clearance and was thus given the green light to carry out the construction of the gas station in the village.

A number of residents of Seine Bight have been engaged in constant protest since the start of the construction — citing their opposition, not to the development itself, but to the location on which the development is taking place.

The location, according to the villagers, has been used traditionally as a place of worship for the Garinagu people in the village since time immemorial, and as a result they are fiercely against the construction of the gas station at that spot in the village

Just last week, villagers released a video showing what appears to be groundwater being flushed out from the construction location to sea. The water was reportedly being pumped out to make space for the fuel tanks that were installed yesterday, and that triggered the protest by the villagers.

Two police vehicles are today at the location, where officers are trying to pacify the crowds. There have been no reports of any physical clashes between the protesting residents and the police.