Barrier Reef Park: 'A Definite Maybe'

Tonight, the controversial proposed barrier reef park is a "definite maybe", and no more. As has been widely aired in the media, developers David Courtenay and David Gegg hoped to transform 33 miles of the reef into a park. That portion of the reef would be protected by exclusive rights of access, and a 25-year monopoly. Well yesterday minister of fisheries Mike Espat took the proposal to Cabinet, where the decision was made to hold off on any approval until a contract is presented. If this sounds like a definite maybe, it is, but that's because the barrier reef project is part of a larger plan to privately manage the marine parks that Cabinet had approved earlier this year as part of the winding down of the Coastal Zone Management Authority. But in this case, the plan to manage Goff's Caye turned into a plan to take exclusive control of one-sixth of the reef. And, it seems that in the present political climate, Cabinet has decided to proceed cautiously with the proposal. Still there is no indication that Belmopan has given the red light, but it does seem to be bordering on yellow.