Six weeks ago, we provided extensive coverage of the fiery public consultation hosted by the Department of Environment. That consultation allowed the public to question officials from the Port of Belize and Waterloo Investment Holdings Limited about their mega cruise project.
As we told you, these private sector interests under the Ashcroft Alliance have floated a development proposal to the government to upgrade their cargo facility while also constructing a cruise tourism port that could offer the biggest cruise ships in the world shoreside berthing. That development is planned to be implemented at their Port Loyola compound in Belize City. As viewers will remember, attendees at the last public consultation pointed out their most significant concerns with this project, which could have major environmental impacts on the Belize City coastline.
But, after that robust debate, the environmental clearance process that scrutinized it went dormant - in the public domain, at least. It turns out that the officials at the Ministry responsible for the Environment were asking the developers to add more information to their environmental impact assessment and prepare for another extended discussion with the general public.
That debate occurred last Friday night at the Caribbean Motors compound, at mile 3 and a half on the Philip Goldson Highway. Our 7News team was there from its start to its conclusion, and Daniel Ortiz has the story on this ongoing conversation, which remains as divisive and controversial as ever:
