NEAC’s Vote was Not Unanimous; What’s Next for Project?
Kenrick Williams
Initial reports indicated that members of NEAC voted unanimously against the project. But today, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement clarifying its stance regarding the recent rejection of the Port of Belize Expansion Project by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee. According to the Chamber, a vote was taken last Thursday on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Port of Belize cargo expansion, cruise terminal and tourism village project, but that they voted in favour of the project and that NEAC’s decision was not unanimous. The release goes on to say that the B.C.C.I.’s representative was unable to attend the meeting due to extenuating circumstances, so its vote did not take into account any technical or scientific comments from other NEAC members which were shared at the meeting on November twenty-fourth. But is this the end all be all for the project? NEAC Chairman Doctor Kenrick Williams is also the C.E.O. for the Department of Environment that hands down the final decision.
Dr. Kenrick Williams, Chair, NEAC
“Remember this is a process of the Department of Environment it convenes these technical people based on the legislation, with legislative backing, and say we have this project, we need input from all these technical expertise, I need to make a decision as a department. I need your technical experience, your review of this process. Help me to make a decision. Based on what was established, they make a recommendation to the department. Now the department takes that information, reviews it further and then looks at whether it endorses that decision and then it informs the developer.”
Duane Moody
“Have you ever seen in the past where a recommendation made by NEAC is not taken?”
Dr. Kenrick Williams
“It could not be taken fully. They could amend, look at portions of that decision. Maybe they want to strengthen, to further review to amend certain components of its recommendation. So yeah it takes that into consideration fully.”
Duane Moody
“But that has never happened?”
Dr. Kenrick Williams
“It has.”
Duane Moody
“That the DOE has said, hey, yes NEAC, I understand the recommendation that you are making, but I disagree. Go ahead to the developer.”
Dr. Kenrick Williams
“As I’ve said, they can amend portions of that. They have amended portions of that recommendation. They’ve gone back to the NEAC to look at parts of that recommendation, looked at whether it is from – based on the technical review of the NEAC – the comments, the discussions, the deliberations, you know can we consider this further. Can we elaborate on this further; maybe they can amend the size of what is presented or the extend of what is presented. So that could happen.”
Duane Moody
“People just want to understand because if I am not mistaken, this project has gone to consultation about four times and so just trying to understand what’s the process.”
Dr. Kenrick Williams
“Right. So with the review and the recommendation of the NEAC last week, then that is presented to the DOE and DOE makes a final determination and then….”
Duane Moody
“Is there a timeline by when DOE is supposed to respond?”
Dr. Kenrick Williams
“There is a sixty-day period from when the information was submitted and when we have to respond to the developers. And so we are trying to meet that timeline, we are just around that timeline. So we are having the technical people work on finalising it.”
