Dave Pascasio, Operations Manager BWS
"The way it was explain to me on site last week Friday that there would be 4 pre-cast concrete columns and those will saddle our  main - both our sewer and water mains in that location. The structure is going to be 7ft sq. right over our infrastructure, so access in the future will be a concern for us."
Jim McFadzean
"How did you go about determining the location for the clock?"
Elsa Paz, Mayor San Pedro Town
"Well the location - I pass in council meetings several times to find out where we should put this clock. I was the one that said that it will look good in the center of the road because it will get a better view from all the different streets and even the view from the beach front."
Jim McFadzean
"When you are embarking on such projects, does the council have any technical advice that would have some background in infrastructure and zone planning?"
Elsa Paz, Mayor San Pedro Town
"Yes, we just had meetings with the central building authority which is the local building authority under the central building authority. we sit down with the person in charge - the representative of the central building authority and with the utilities companies which is Belize Water Services because they did object the project at the beginning because of their pipes but the last meeting we had with them is that we had to move it about 18 inches away from their pipe and it will be OK like that."
Jim McFadzean
"It's my understanding that they still feel that the project is flawed and it will affect their ability to access those underground lines."
Elsa Paz, Mayor San Pedro Town
"Yes that was their biggest concern coming from Belize Water Services. But we just had a meeting this morning to finalize. They said that they do not have a problem for us building a clock but you have to be about 18 inches away from the pipes because where we were going to build it was too close to their pipes."
And while that meeting this morning has given the council a green light, there's still some lingering doubt being harbored at the headquarters of BWSL.
Dave Pascasio, Operations Manager BWS
"We can't guarantee what will happen during construction because we don't have anybody out there fulltime looking and overseeing what is happening. It's not our project."
"On Monday we wrote to Mayor Paz stating our objections and I even inform her and her representatives that for future - our experience with breaks - that size pipe that is there that there is a huge crater by the time we reach there and that could in itself jeopardize the integrity of their structure once its built and so it's more like 3 fold; damage to our infrastructure, access and even to their structure."
But with at least that one hurdle behind them now, the Mayor is looking at tackling the wider issue, which is to try and change public opinion by going on a massive media campaign come next Monday, to try and convince San Pedranos that the towering clock will add value to the tourist destination, rather than take away from it.
Jim McFadzean
"Some of your residents might say that why go on this educational campaign now after the fact because construction has already begun?"
Elsa Paz, Mayor San Pedro Town
"They are just doing the foundation part which they had two days working there because of the same problem with the hurricane. It's on hold right now, but on Monday I will go on the morning show and explain to the people. I will always go with what the majority says. First of all it's not the town's money that is financing this project. It's a donation to the town."
Jim McFadzean
"You are saying as we speak today Friday that that town clock is not set in stone yet?"
Elsa Paz, Mayor San Pedro Town
"Right now it's just the foundation that will be holding the clock."
And while Mayor Paz is going on the offensive, she'll be needing some defence too: there will be a protest against the clock at noon on Monday led by no less than the staff at the San Pedro Sun newspaper.
CH7

---