Godwin Hulse Says Seismic Testing Storm is “Huffing and Puffing”

Cabinet was expected to discuss the aborted plans for seismic testing in the deepest of Belize’s waters today. Last week, hastily whipped up public outcry forced Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia Junior to intervene with the Government. While no announcement has been made on the plans going forward as of news time, newly-appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senator Godwin Hulse, believes the controversy is overblown and based on a misunderstanding. Today, he suggested there was too much of an emotional reaction. He says environmentalists and other concerned persons were too quick to believe that Government would abandon its moratorium on any kind of petroleum exploration-related activity in and near the Barrier Reef.

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

“One of the conditions that I have seen for lifting of any moratorium, is that you would bring in some expert who would look at the economic cost benefit of lifting it, if you want. But then I asked from my own technical and engineering point of view: how on earth would you know what the benefit would be, if you first don’t do a study to find out what is there? And my understanding of the seismic was just that – it’s not going to – the experts have said that it’s not going to destroy anything; it was just to map out there and it’s part of a mapping that’s coming down all the way from Mexico as I understand it, to say, well, what is there. Sometimes in this country you know we have to be frank, and I don’t want to make anybody feel bad and so, but my position is, we have to in this country start to make decisions based on good evidence and good facts, man. This emotional drive that we have to everything, where we huff and puff and huff and puff is not good, ‘cause it destroys potential opportunities. If you do not know what is there, then how you could ever make a proper decision? It’s not drilling anything; nobody is being contracted to drill; it’s just a big ship out there doing some studies; and as far as I am concerned, proper information should have gone out there before everybody is jumping and huffing and puffing.”

Godwin Hulse

Reporter

“Sir, do you believe that the original decision by Cabinet was hasty and misinformed?”

Godwin Hulse

“No, I don’t think so at all. Cabinet said there was going to be a moratorium, and with respect to the seismic, I don’t think it was misinformed at all. I think it was well-informed but circumstances are what circumstances are.”