After months of indecision and mixed messages - Cabinet has finally pronounced with some clarity on the various cruise ports jostling for pre-eminence in the Belize District.
It's called an "interim Statement on Cruise Sector Development," contained in a lengthy, 850 word release that reads like a lawyer's brief.
First off, the document declares that the Stake Bank causeway is virtually a no go. The statement says the proposed causeways connecting Stake Bank to North Drowned Caye, and North Drowned Caye to the City are, quote, "the subject of an active governmental review to determine the validity of all processes and approvals. The urgent review commenced today with an initial briefing to Cabinet by the Chief Environmental Officer Mr. Martin Alegria. Serious questions have arisen from such briefing including purported missing files." End quote. Missing files? Well, maybe that would explain why the Department of the Environment still hasn't sent us a copy of the Environmental Compliance Plan almost a week after Alegria did a little show and tell.
So now, Cabinet has instructed Alegria, basically to investigate himself! The release says he is to, quote "promptly produce a written report on the factual circumstances associated with the processes engaged to seek regulatory approvals for these development projects." And like the ECP - which no independent body has seen - this one, Cabinet pledges, will go public. The release says, quote, "Cabinet will make available to social partners and the public the report and evidence produced and if there has been non-compliance with relevant regulatory processes and approvals, appropriate action will be taken including…the rescission of purported permits or licenses." Very serious talk that bodes very poorly for the future of the causeways.
But, the way Cabinet sees it - the loss of the causeways is not fatal for the Port Coral project on Stake Bank. The release says "this Cabinet expects that the viability of the Stake Bank cruise facility, for its investors and financiers, is NOT contingent on the construction of causeways to the mainland."
Next the release turns to the Port of Magical Belize, - which the release manages to take no position on - simply saying - that if it gets all approvals - quote, "actual construction, under a strict monitoring regime, is, according to it developers, expected to commence in 2022."
But, there's no such puppy footing around the proposed cruised terminal at the Port of Belize, known as the Waterloo project. The release says, quote, "the unfeasibility of the critical dredging component, is now a matter of public record." End quote. But, from there, the release again fails to make any decisive declaration, dodging this one by saying, quote, "a final determination remains pending from the NEAC."
But it does come just short of saying no to the Waterloo cruise port and emphasises that the cargo Port has to be modernized, and suggests that should be the focus of the owners of the Port of Belize. The release says, quote, "a priority of this Administration is to foster the development of modern, efficient and cost-effective cargo and bulk shipping port operations…This policy priority…cannot be dictated by the location or viability of any cruise port."
And, if you're wondering where this small burst of clarity comes from, you can thank the Blue Bond. The Nature Conservancy is watching Belize's Commitment to Marine protection with the floating of that bond - and having three cruise ports in the Belize District is not at all compatible with marine conservation. That's why the release says, quote, "Cabinet emphasizes that its highest priority, within the framework of the cruise industry, is adherence to Belize's commitment for ecological conservation and sustainability, both marine and terrestrial….Sustainable development, including cruise tourism expansion, must not contemplate only this decade's gains, or even this generation's, but must be demonstrably sustainable for the long term….Marine sustainability will be bolstered significantly…in the coming years as a result of this Administration's Blue Bonds for Conservation Agreement.
