And while Briceno discussed the broad policy implication of seismic testing for petroleum within a national park, we also discussed the implications of the deepening rift between SATIIM and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Within the next two weeks, SATIIM will be taking the government to court arguing that it's breaking the law by allowing the seismic testing. Briceno commented on the present state of affairs between GOB and SATIIM.
Jules Vasquez,
Do you feel betrayed by SATIIM in so far as you said you've been engaging them in dialogue and now the government of Belize is being sued by SATIIM?
Hon. Johnny Briceno,
"Betrayed is a strong word. I am disappointed at the route that SATIIM has taken but maybe it is something that we need to address in the courts because if it wasn't SATIIM maybe some body else would have done it in the future. So it's best that we could address these issues now when we are at the infant stage and not when we are in a further stage of the development of the industry. We are confident that we have taken the necessary steps, that we have been prudent, that we have operated within the law and now that it is in the courts, we are fairly confident that the courts will see that we have been operating within the law, within the National Parks Act, within the environmental laws and regulations of this country."
Jules Vasquez,
Is the government of Belize guilty of practicing a divide and conquer strategy over SATIIM and the Mayan individual community leaders?
Hon. Johnny Briceno,
"Of course not. What simply, now that this case has come to the courts the government has to prepare its case and what SATIIM has been doing is that they have been coming across that they are speaking on behalf of the five communities. What the government simply did was to reach out to the alcaldes and to the Chairman of these villages and ask them what is their opinion: is SATIIM representing you, is SATIIM talking for you, working for you, and they are saying no that they are elected leaders of the village and they believe they are the ones who should be talking on behalf of their respected communities."
Jules Vasquez,
But it seems a lot like the old bamboozling strategy that was used in colonial times where if there was leadership, responsible for the management of the park then that leadership should make the negotiations on behalf of the communities within the park. They are who you signed the co-management agreement with.
Hon. Johnny Briceno,
"Yes but we have been negotiating with SATIIM when it comes to the issue of the park. Now this is an issue beyond the park."
45 community leaders were invited to sign the affidavit against SATIIM, and according to our reports, only three of them did.
