There's a public health scare tonight - but the extent of it is unclear. It has to do with outdoor gym equipment donated by the Taiwanese in May of 2019. These were distributed through the Ministry of Health to various municipalities for use in public space.
Well, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has written to town and city councils warning them that those pieces of equipment have dangerous levels of lead.
And we only know this because the Orange Walk Town Council put out a public notice stating that the outdoor fitness equipment is being removed from two public spaces.
They say that the Ministry of Health and wellness has informed them, quote, "that the OFE's in six municipalities…have been tested positive for excessive lead. The ministry has requested their removal and careful disposal." End quote.
So how serious is this for members of the public who use them regularly? Why was testing required? And how excessive is the lead? Indeed, there are more questions than answers tonight, but the Ministry of Health has reserved comment for Monday.
In Belize City, the equipment is at Marion Jones - and the City Council says when the donation was made during UDP days, the pieces were never transferred to them.
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