At the end of October, we told you about the 220 acre subdivisions called Silver Palms, a residential development in the Cayo Frances Lagoon near the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
The plan has generated a huge controversy on the island - where many residents are resisting it - even though the Department of Environment has approved a Limited Level Environmental Study, not a full EIA.
And, tonight the area representative Andre Perez is making it plain: he simply will not allow the plan to proceed - no matter who approves it:
Andre Perez, Area Rep., Belize Rural South
"I am saying personally as a resident of this community, as a businessman as an area rep that I am not supporting it and it will not happen. I will not allow it to happen. Because that is a classic case to say: "Stop, put the brakes." And I am saying it publicly with no qualms about it."
Jules Vasquez:
"You're talking about Silver Palms?"
Andre Perez, Area Rep., Belize Rural South
"Yes I am. Openly. That cannot happen and that is literally an environmental disaster to happen if that's allowed. And quote me on it."
Jules Vasquez:
"You are not satisfied with the findings of the Department of the Environment."
Andre Perez, Area Rep., Belize Rural South
"No and I've said it publicly and privately and I shared it with the minister and in cabinet and with prime minister that what was done, I hold the department responsible because even though it does not meet the threshold, your knowledge and looking at it, and technically you look at the levels, it might say it does not need, but opening up yourself and looking at the bigger picture of the community, understanding the implications, the Department of the Environment had well in its jurisdiction to say this is too sensitive, I recommend we do an EIA. That would have been the easiest thing to do but it wasn't done, I'm not accusing but I'm just saying the facts that could have been done but was not. But here we are stuck with this issue in front of us. We do not know what's going to happen or whether there are legal implications in there. I am prepared to defend it and if it has to go to court I am prepared to go to court to defend what should not happen in this community. allow me to get a little bit political. When we hear the opposition pointing figures and issuing the silver palms and trying to on the issue of a real estate standpoint and calling it out. The opposition does not know the history or they refuse to look at it. That issue of silver palm, 237.5 acres was given to some people up north in blue creek for land compensation issued in September 2020, 3 months before the general elections of 2020. That was done in lieu of land compensation somewhere that the person had lands but someone else had title. And that person got that piece of land. The wife of that person ran for elections and lost. So whether there are allegations to point that this was all political gifts, I do not know but we inherited this issue. Remind the opposition about that. And I'm telling you, it's full of swamp. It's actually in the Francis Lagoon. That area is teeming with life where fish spawn where they are born and it is for fly fishing. So let the people know the history."
Later on in the news you'll hear Perez talk about a new controversy - one about large land tracts being distributed near the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.
