US$26 million is the official cost of reef damage
The final figures for damages caused to Belize’s Barrier reef was officially released today by Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer for the Ministry of Natural Resources. And the numbers have gone up considerably; in fact, almost doubled. The initial damage estimate was fifteen million U.S. dollars and Alegria says that there were other factors to consider before bumping up the final figure to twenty-six million U.S. dollars or fifty-two millions Belize dollars. What were those factors? And will Belize be able to collect that large fine? That’s what we asked Alegria today.
Martin Alegria, C.E.O., Ministry of Natural Resources
“As of today we have finalized a joint report between Fisheries and us in terms of the damage assessed in terms of ecological damage to the structure, what was totally irreversibly damaged, what was recoverable and so on and valued those completely destroyed and partially destroyed. The sum up to now has been around twenty-six to twenty-seven million.”
Jose Sanchez
“That’s Belize or US?”
Martin Alegria
“US. We calculate based on US globally accepted standards; formulas and experiences and cases and based on US dollars.”
Jose Sanchez
“I was told it was possible that figure could be multiplied by three.”
Martin Alegria
“What happen is, according to Environmental Act, if a criminal charge is brought and there is supporting documentation reported from other agencies that there was some type of negligence, recklessness, wanton disregard; those sort of thing from the crew, especially the captain. Then it allows that to triple that penalty. I’m not saying that might happen or could happen but it depends on what other agencies and other investigations reveal, which I haven’t had the opportunity yet to have conclusive evidence.”
Jose Sanchez
“It’s not only the reef, I was told that there was an aggregate spawning site nearby…”
Martin Alegria
“Talking about valuation, why most of us will open our eyes big when we hear those figures is because added on to the actual physical damage to the reef which, as I said, some is irreparable, we have to take inot consideration other issues. Within the module or the formula you have value in terms of tourism, revenue generated from tourism, ecosystem in terms of nursery.”
The matter of the Westerhaven is officially under investigation by the Department of Environment as well as the police, who is working with D.O.E. to locate a person of interest for questioning in relation to the incident on the reef. We’ll have an update on who that person is on tomorrow night’s newscast.
