§ 80. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will investigate the water supply to Belize with particular reference to the placing of an order for eight-inch pipes from the United States of America instead of 12-inch pipes from the United Kingdom; and whether he will state the cost of this project.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydProposals for increasing the water supply of Belize formed part of the development plan discussed with the delegation from British Honduras in January. It had been intended to arrange for installation of new pipes in May, 1959, but a prolonged drought has produced a critical situation, which will be aggravated by a large influx of people to Belize for the Royal visit in 93W May. It became necessary, therefore, to take immediate steps to increase the water supply. By placing an order at once for eight-inch pipes immediately available from the United States it will be possible for the installation to be completed before the end of April. There would not have been time to get them from the United Kingdom.
The total cost will be about £68,000, of which about £58,900 will be the cost of the pipes.