The protracted Belcan Bridge initiative in Belize has entered a new phase of development, with the bidding process scheduled to commence in January 2025. This critical infrastructure project has been officially restored under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH) following what Minister Julius Espat characterizes as persistent and successful lobbying efforts.
Minister Espat clarified the ministerial transition, emphasizing that the project’s relocation from Belize City Council oversight to MIDH control resulted from strategic advocacy rather than protest. “We call it lobbying,” Espat stated during press inquiries. “We are proud that MIDH is the ministry responsible for infrastructure. We have proven that with time. We have the capability, we have experience, we have working relationships with external partners.”
The project, originally conceived in 2021 as an MIDH initiative, encountered complications during the City Council’s tenure as executing agency, including allegations of design plagiarism involving a Lebanese firm. Minister Espat confirmed that MIDH would revert to utilizing its original bridge design to circumvent ongoing copyright concerns, stating firmly: “I only defend the Belizean professional and I stand with that at all times.”
When questioned about potential intergovernmental friction with city authorities, Espat dismissed such notions, noting that the Belize City Council remains appreciative of the infrastructure investment. “We started this from 2021. It was our initiative to look out for the city, and we started it from scratch. I don’t think they can be unhappy,” Espat remarked, emphasizing the dual benefit for both Belize City and the nation at large.
The Minister acknowledged Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s ultimate authority in the jurisdictional decision, confirming that the project’s green light must originate from the executive level before MIDH can commence implementation.