BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 30, 2019– Thousands of residents on the island of Caye Caulker are without water and electricity, and as a consequence of the twin woes on the island many tourists have interrupted their vacation and are leaving the island in droves, according to a report in the San Pedro Sun.
According to a press release issued by Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) the problem has to do with the failure of a generator. The company dispatched technicians to the island to repair the generator which should be completed by tonight, Monday, according to a press release from BEL.
The problem generator resulted in BEL having to shed load during peak hours. BEL said that the demand for power on Caye Caulker has increased.
On Sunday, December 29, the Belize Water Services (BWS) Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant shut down due to a broken drive shaft.
In order to address the emergency water situation that has arisen due to the broken shaft, BWS dispatched some water trucks with a capacity of 12,000 gallons on barges, which the company rationed to customers in coordination with the Village Council.
BWS then dispatched a team of technicians to the island to install a customized shaft to get the water running again. There are, however, many people on the island who are still without running water.
In their press release, BWS explained that on December 24, they replaced the drive shaft which has been operating for the past eight years. A new shaft has been ordered from the United States and it is expected that it will be shipped this week.
The Caye Caulker Tourism Industry Association has noted that Caye Caulker has been left without water and electricity during some peak tourism times in 2018 and 2019.
Feature photo: BWS plant on Caye Caulker