And we also asked the Minister of Natural Resources for his take on the letter. He told us that, up until this morning, he hadn't read it as yet but he agreed that there should be a limit to companies who try to continuously re-apply for an EIA after NEAC has made a decision.
He also added that he supports the residents of Port Loyola who are standing up against major developments in their community.
Courtney Menzies:
"Do you feel like companies like this should be given the opportunity to continuously reapply, even if they've been rejected in the past, to keep reapplying like this?"
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
"No, actually. Strictly speaking, I don't think that at all, I think that that process is exhaustive and the people at the NEAC had a position, we have to respect that position, but as I said, we have to look at it, it's not a unilateral decision, it's not a solo decision, ultimately as a Cabinet and as a government, we are going to have to grapple with that and we are going to have to look at that critically so that going forward, we get it right, we have to get it right."
Courtney Menzies:
"Similar to Gales Point, we know that Port Loyola is a largely black community, how do you think Ashcroft's proposed plans will impact them?"
Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources
"As we can see already, the people of Port Loyola and surrounding communities have borrowed a page from Gales Point Manatee residents and they're standing up and I rate that, I respect that, I admire that, I love that. And I trust that they will continue to do that."
Hyde is currently acting Prime Minister after Prime Minister Briceño left the country yesterday on what a release calls "duty leave." Hyde will continue to act as PM until Briceno's return on September 5th.
