The NGO reps also wanted to address what they say is a persistent misconception in the public that they are automatically opposed to any and all proposed development. Here's what Senator Janelle Chanona had to say this morning about that:
Kevin Mendez - Sunup Host
"Since there has been no response from the office of the Prime Minister as regards the letter that was sent by the Coalition, what's the next move?"
Senator Janelle Chanona - VP, Oceana Belize
"Very often, the conservation and NGO community is pitched as anti-development, and that couldn't be further from the truth. We want stable livelihoods, we want sustainable development. We want predictability going forward. I think nobody really likes things that come in from the side, i.e. COVID, hurricanes. Nobody likes surprises in that way. But, it's so important that we look at these issues not just as this project, but that is always going to be a 'something' that we're here talking about. And until we fix the context of this and make sure that we have the systems in place so that if a point in time comes and says, you know, we don't want X, Y, and Z here, it should not have to immediately mean a court case. If we've already said we don't want strip mining, we don't want to quarry, we don't want this, why is it that somebody can come in and say, no, I'm going to wear you down?"
Renata Samuels - Sunup Host
"I'm going to change your mind."
Senator Janelle Chanona
"Exactly, why is it that we can set the line and say, You know what? It's okay. You know, I hear you."
Renata Samuels
"We don't allow that here. We don't do that."
Senator Janelle Chanona
"You know, that's not us, you know. And that's why I said it's really time for us - and no time like today - to say who we are, what we want, and what we believe we deserve for the future. We are collaborators. We are not confrontational on every single development issue, but we need it done in a certain way. And if the right systems are in place and the right firm terms are in place, then everybody would feel more comfortable because there's not going to be a secret deal signed that we find out about, years down the road, or somebody come and say, Hey, you owe me. We're past that."
