And turning now to the Turneffe, a project spearheaded by MDL Investment Limited is generating controversy because the investor is proposing to build over the water structures.
This is also the grounds of legendary fishing flats.
As one US visitor recently wrote to the government, quote, "It is not in the interest of Belize to destroy a section of the flats only so that one developer can prosper. People travel from all over the world for this priceless resource. Please do not approve the proposed development." End quote.
Today, we asked the Chief Environmental Officer about the project.
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer
"So this particular project went through the environmental impact assessment process and if we really take some time and look at that process, this is one of the best, open, transparent process that we have in Belize. So in terms of sustainable development, there are three pillars in terms of, again, the overall decision makers should look at to make a decision in how to move forward in regards to a particular project. They should look at the environmental dimension, the social dimension, and the economic dimension. The Department of Environment through the EIA process provides to the government information as it relates to the environmental dimension and if you look at the structure, the structure is open, it is transparent, the structure entails having a committee of 16 experts, senior people in their field, look at the EIA report, and advise the DOE how to move forward with it. And so my position is the position that the NEAC then would have. So the NEAC has already sat, they've deliberated on this project, they have made a recommendation to the DOE to ask the developer to relook at the proposal because the proposal is not in line with some of the national guidelines we have, we have communicated that to the developer, and we are awaiting a response."
