Coastal Zone and BAHA in dire straits

Two organisations that play key roles in protecting the nation’s economic health are on life support tonight. The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, with headquarters on the Barracks, is running out of funding at the end of April, while the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA, is having great difficulty sustaining its current level of operations. A check with Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Hugh O’Brien, under whose management both institutions fall, indicates that measures are being put in place to carry on programmes deemed critical to the country. O’Brien told News 5 that priority is being given to the marine protected areas programme, which is being formally switched over to the Fisheries Department. A trust fund mechanism to be managed by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust is being set up, and O’Brien says “bridge financing” for the first quarter of 2004 has already been approved by government to ensure minimal interruption of services. Cabinet has also approved that a portion of the head tax on cruise tourist arrivals be made available to fund the scaled down C.Z.M.A.I. How will this affect staff? O’Brien says contracts for all C.Z.M.A.I. employees end on April thirtieth, but with a commitment to continue with critical programmes, most of the technical staff are expected to be retained. A management plan, which includes user fees for Goff’s and Rendezvous Cayes, is being submitted to Cabinet for approval on Tuesday, which would bring in much needed funds for the crippled institution. In the case of BAHA, I.D.B. funding for the institution ends next month, and while the intention was for a certain level of sustainability to have been achieved by then, the expectations have not been reached. BAHA now generates only sixty percent of its operational costs and government has committed a half million dollars for its programmes in its budget for the next financial year. O’Brien says there are funds to pay staff and carry out operations at current levels until the end of March, but beyond that date BAHA must be able to earn its keep, presumably by instituting or increasing fees to those who benefit from its services.