Nextera Makes FOIA Request for Info on Portico’s ECP
A request under the Freedom of Information Act has been sent to the Ministry of Sustainable Development for gathered facts on environmental clearance, as well as an Environmental Compliance Plan, for the Port of Magical Belize. A little over two years have gone by since the Department of Environment granted that permission to Portico Enterprises Limited. On Monday, a letter signed by Allan Herrera, on behalf of Nextera Environmental and Engineering Consultancy, was delivered to Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai. The application seeks answers for several questions related to the E.C.P., including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. That document was presented by Portico and accepted by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, NEAC. The E.I.A. Report says that site preparation, fencing, temporary routes, preparation of the peninsula, as well as dredging of the access channel, were expected in the first year, following approval. According to Herrera, a recent visit to the location reveals that none of those activities have begun. As a result, several questions have been raised in respect of this matter. This morning, reporters caught up with the Minister of Sustainable Development in Placencia and inquired about a Manatee Management Plan for Port of Magical Belize. That plan is among the documents being requested by Nextera.
Reporter
“This company, Nextera, has, among many other things, requested the manatee management plan under the Freedom of Information (Act) request. Have you looked into how manatees would be affected by Portico’s plans?”
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
Orlando Habet
“Personally, not in detail. We have had some discussions with the department. The department has been looking at it. I think they have also been consulting with some of the environmental groups who are looking at the protection of the manatees. For certain, what the Department of the Environment looks at when we’re looking at an EIA, is not to say yes or no to a project because they want or don’t want. Remember that the sustainable development ministry is all about sustainable development. So you look at the economic side, the social side and also the environmental side. So you try to have the least effect on the environment as possible, but you also want to make certain that there is that economic side for job creation, and the social side to get families involved, and, certainly, if there are communities around, that communities also be involved and that they also benefit. For certain, the department is looking at what is mitigatable. So there might be some kind of effect, but if there is a way to mitigate it then there is a suggestion of how to do it, or they can come together and request, “Listen, this is a fault that we found.” It’s not entirely saying you can’t do it, but of you can come up with another report saying these are the mitigatable ways of how we will deal with this, then they can resubmit and then they get permission, yes or no.”
