As we showed you on Friday, the public consultation for the proposed Port of Belize expansion project to include cruise ship terminal decks saw much opposition from not only the public but several environmental NGO's.
And taking all that very much into account in the new blue government is the new Ministry of the Blue Economy.
Blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and improved livelihoods, and that's why they have been keeping a close eye on the Waterloo Investment Holdings expansion project. The CEO, Kennedy Carrillo, even called into the public consultation to ensure that the Ministry is involved in every step of the process.
And today, the Minister, Andre Perez, via a Facebook Live video, is asking for the project to be suspended while the country recovers from recent disasters such as the flooding and, of course, the pandemic. Here's how he put it:
Hon. Andre Perez, Minister, Blue Economy & Civil Aviation
"I will actively pursue this consultation to please take a break, take it easy. Yes I want to listen, yes we want to dialogue, listen to all parties involved, but at this point in time the urgency of our nation - there are many other matters of national importance that require immediate attention such as the floods that just occurred, we have damage in agriculture, livestock, floodings all over the place. Here in San Pedro and Caye Caulker we have badly damaged roads right here that is costing in the millions to repair, the economic crisis right now, unemployment is rampant in particular here in Caye Caulker and San Pedro - all of these things that we must focus on that these require immediate short term solutions and I will ask respectfully to the consultations and everything that we must put it on hold - although it is a long term project that may have some economic impact whether positive or negative to this country, I believe that we need to put it on hold to look at it."
The project has not been approved as yet, but the major concern is the amount of dredging and ocean dumping that is required and the damage to the barrier reef it may cause.
Notably, no CEO has been named for the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management which would have key inputs into any decision on this project.
