The conservation lobby is energized and mobilized against government's plan to de-reserve a portion of the Bacalar Chico Reserve - a World Heritage Site. And tonight, the news is that they have an unlikely ally in Cabinet. Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith today told us that he cannot support the de-reservation of a world heritage site.
Jules Vasquez,
What is your comment on the proposed de-reservation?
Hon. Godfrey Smith, Minister of Tourism
"My comments will be very brief in relation to that matter. First of all whatever discussion occurred at Cabinet level was a cursory discussion, it was not an agenda item; it was a very broad sketchy discussion. Secondly, to the best of my understanding, there was no decision made in relation to that. Thirdly, I have to say in all sincerity that, certainly speaking for myself, but I suspect no Cabinet realized that that was being spoken of, Bacalar Chico, was part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In my view, it would be fool heatedly to even contemplate tampering with a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So I believe once that fact has been brought to light, I am fairly certain that Cabinet will no longer be interested in looking at that."
Jules Vasquez,
Respectfully Sir, my daughter is in standard five and she knows it is a World Heritage Site. How could Ministers of government, senior leaders of our country, not know?
Hon. Godfrey Smith,
"There is a part of Bacalar Chico, as I understand, I've looked at it since, there are areas of Bacalar Chico, there is a part behind the reserve which is also referred to as Bacalar Chico which is not formally part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. But as I said, this was not a fully developed conversation. There was not a paper involved, it was a very cursory discussion relating to lands in North Ambergris."
Jules Vasquez,
Are we conclude then that the Deputy Prime Minister misspoke when he said, these were his exact words, 'yes it is a Cabinet decision to de-reserve.'
Hon. Godfrey Smith,
"I've said earlier that my understanding was that no Cabinet decision was made on that matter. It is my understanding as well, although I haven't seen it, that there was a government press release which said that no decision had been made."
Jules Vasquez,
So if you had your say or if you were to have your way, you would say that there's no way that we can de-reserve a World Heritage Site?
Hon. Godfrey Smith,
"I will go so far as to say I certainly will not be supporting any decision to de-reserve lands that form a part of a World Heritage Site. I think it really would be foolhardy."
But the Prime Minister isn't going where his tourism leader and
Deputy Party Leader has dared to go, or at least not today. This morning in Yo Creek Village - our colleagues for Orange Walk's Northern Cable Network tried to get him to comment on the matter and it didn't go very well.
Fortunato Noble, Northern Cable Network
"Sir we wanted to ask you about the Bacalar Chico de-reservation."
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"We've already put a release already about that."
Fortunato Noble,
"So you're saying what Mr. Marin said in an interview last week is not so?"
[Musa Walking Away.]
Pushing in that scene was provided not by the PM's security detail, but by his personal bouncer, Nuri Mohammed. But the PM has more than us to worry about. His Tourism Minister has already bolted and the conservation lobby has besieged his office with howls of protest.
One letter of caution comes from Chief Forest Officer Wilber Sabido to his Minister, Florencio Marin. Sabido advises Marin that the Ministry of Natural Resources should re-consider any decision it has made to de-reserve. And, indications tonight are that with all the pressure it's under, the Prime Minister is being forced to reconsider Cabinet's position on Bacalar Chico.
In fact, senior sources tell us that a formal reversal could come by later this week. As for the one million dollars that's been put as a down payment on the deal, it's reportedly in an escrow account and can be refunded without government having to go shoveling into the basement at the Ministry of Finance.
