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Government has suspended dredging operations at Angelfish Caye. Last week Friday we took you there where you heard from fly fishing tour guides about why they - and the tourism industry - can't risk losing the Caye - which they know only as Will Bauer Flats. It's the only guaranteed spot in that area where guides would be able to find both permit and bonefish, and they fear that building an eco-friendly lodge will do more harm than good.
And after our visit the developers erected a geotech barrier around the flat, with the words "No Trespassing" on it.
But today the Mining Unit at the Ministry of Natural Resources sent a letter to the developers explaining that while they accept the validity of their permit, they must investigate the best approach to dredging after hearing the concerns of the users of that area. They also told them that while they notified the ministry that dredging would begin on Monday, February 12th, they have not met all the conditions, which includes putting up containment structures and arranging site visits by both the Fisheries Department and the Mining Unit.
And while they plan to resolve the concerns of the tour guides, today the acting president of the Belize Fly Fishers Association said a suspension is not enough. He told us via Zoom that they won't back down until there is a stop order.
Eworth Garbutt, Ag. President, BFFA
"And I'll ask you what you think about the word suspension when you were going to school? I went only to high school and when say suspension, the bad boy or girl only went home for two weeks or the most and they come right back and huh. They need expulsion, I mean a direct stop order. Suspension is not."
"And again, I don't want to go out on a limb, but probably it's a softer way to get to that point. But I think this needs to be at a point where it goes straight to stop order. And we already are speaking to our lawyer and exactly that it needs to be an injunction, a straight stop order. That's the only thing here. Suspension only gives you time to go reset, fix up your dredge equipment and come back. Won't work."
"We are not with that, none at all. I have gotten that picture because I never, but one of my colleagues who does fly fishing. He actually fished that flap today. And the guest I was very concerned. And it was it's really disrespectful. Could you correct me if I'm wrong. Do you know any private waters so far in our water-ways under the laws of Belize? That's a water-way. Those people should be charged for deceiving and putting the wrong sign up. They should be charged forth with immediately. I sure we have a Coast Guard that could go there right now and take that down that we are buying gas for. That is out right, they need to be sued just for that. Very disrespectful."
"We welcomed these people to Belize. We say we depend on tourism, but I'm not sure right now. We don't need this no more mein. Please, Minister dont let us, let us get our injunction, let us get the stop order and we are done. No more TV. Let us done this mein. We got time to market people to come to Belize to see how we live in a harmony, not fight. Because this is going to the end. It must be stopped, you know. This must be stopped. This is not an option. The option is none. The only option I'm playing for is do not let it be prolonged."
We'll have more on this story later on in the news.
