SPEAR, the Society for the Promotion of Education and Research have completed a new poll, this one on the hot-button issue of the oil industry. 330 respondents in urban and rural Belize were contacted by telephone during daylight hours to answer seven questions on the oil industry.

The first was on the very topical subject of oil exploration in national parks and protected areas:

  • 61% of those polled nationally said that they do not agree with oil exploration in protected areas and national parks.
  • The highest number of those objecting were in Corozal where 90% said no.
  • In Orange Walk and Stann Creek, the vote went the other way. A majority of respondents in those districts favored permits for exploration in national parks.

The next question was on government's reporting of the spending oil revenue:

  • An overwhelming 90% of respondents said it should be reported separately.
  • As regards using that oil revenue to pay off debt, a close majority
  • 57% said that oil revenues should be used for that purpose
  • More than that, 67% said that oil revenues should be used to reduce the cost of oil and electricity
  • While 80% said it should be used to reduce taxes.
  • The greatest number of respondents, 34.5% agreed to oil revenue should mostly be used for an affordable education.
Tags Spear Corozal Orange Walk Stann Creek