§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new capital for British Honduras has been approved; and when its construction will commence.
§ Mr. GreenwoodH.M.G. have approved the building of a new Capital in British Honduras and I have informed the Government of British Honduras that work on this project can now go ahead. Outline plans had already been prepared by consultants and arrangements will now be made for tender documents to be drawn up.
246WIt is estimated that the cost of the work now to be put in hand will be of the order of £4 million and the major part of this will be provided (subject to Parliamentary approval) from grants and loans made available to British Honduras by H.M.G.
The new Capital will be built on a site about 50 miles inland, near the junction of the Western Highway and the Hummingbird Highway. The first aim of the project is to provide an administrative centre less exposed than Belize, the present Capital, to the risk of hurricane and flood damage. At a later stage it is envisaged that the new Capital will become a main centre for agricultural and industrial development.
Preliminary work has already begun and it is hoped that substantial progress will be possible within the next two years.