For almost two weeks now, we've been telling you about the reports our newsroom received that the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) voted no to the proposed cruise port and cargo expansion project which the Port of Belize and Waterloo proposed to the government of Belize several years ago. Well, the government made an official announcement today confirming that outcome.
In a press release that arrived only MINUTES before the start of our evening newscast, the Department of Environment said, quote, "The...(DOE) has decided not to grant environmental clearance to a proposal to develop a cruise port and expansion of the cargo facility at Port Loyola, Belize City, Belize District, submitted by Port of Belize Limited. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, the...(NEAC) has a mandate to focus on the environmental impacts and key social and economic impacts that any proposed project could potentially have.
Following a process of public consultations, exchanges with the developer, and site inspections, the NEAC, at its meeting held on November 24, 2022, recommended, on the basis of the scientific and technical information before it, that the project not be granted environmental clearance. The DOE has given careful consideration to the recommendation of the NEAC and has informed the developer that the department accepted the NEAC's recommendation and would not be granting environmental clearance to the project." End quote.
We'll seek comment from PBL's management about this refusal, which could end up in the Supreme Court.
