Will Rural South Minister join San Pedro mayor against oil exploration?
manuel heredia
The Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage has garnered support and membership from environmental groups as well as major stakeholders in industries that can be affected by an oil spill. The call to ban offshore drilling has sparked vocal responses at meetings held in Caye Caulker and San Pedro by Oceana, one of the founding members of the coalition. The National Trade Union Congress and the Belize Tourism Industry Association, two powerful organizations, were joined by San Pedro’s Mayor, Elsa Paz when she joined the coalition. But the person most environmentalists and BTIA’s president Dionne Chamberlain, were hoping to join the coalition is Tourism Minister and San Pedro resident Manuel Heredia. Heredia is obliged to support his party as well as the electors of Belize Rural South. News Five asked Heredia this evening, which voice has his attention.
Manuel Heredia, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“Even though I am a part of government, I still consider myself a fisherman and I still love the reef. I have fished the reef so many years and I see how beautiful it is. We have been looking at all the options, agreements, contracts that are there’ looking at what is happening internationally with this particular issue in the gulf and I can assure you that at the end of the day we will come up with a solution that will be in the best interest of the tourism industry. If it means to say that there is anything to cause damage to our reef, definitely I will be the first one to say I’m not riding with that. I feel that our industry comes first, as I mentioned in the beginning. The Tourism industry is a priority to this government. If the oil or the drilling will affect that industry I’m sure that we will make sure that we put measures and that we do whatever it takes to address the situation.”
Jose Sanchez
“I believe the mayor feels the pulse of the people and is saying no to offshore drilling. I understand that there is a strong possibility on Monday she will be going on one of Oceana’s tours of the BP oil spill across the gulf. She strongly believes in that. Do you think there is a possibility that you would also show solidarity to that cause or that could also go against what the government is promoting in terms of business?”
Manuel Heredia
“Not really, I respect my mayor; I respect Miss Matura, I love her a lot. She is a very good friend of mine but as a government we can’t just jump right away and say give into anything. We have to look at all the options and agreements as I mentioned before. If there is a contract that binds us then we have to find the right formula to how to get out of it. But definitely, we believe and I feel my colleagues will be with me that if it is something that will affect the reef or will affect the livelihood of our people, definitely we will not go with it.”
Fish is the only meat Belizeans with no money, some inexpensive tools & time on their hands can eat for free. If a spill contaminates the water we now use to generate income destroys the reef & render our seafood inedible, we will have no one to blame but our elected officials & a few greedy people who will be able to leave the country & live comfortably somewhere else. If you break the contract & the oil companies sue you, force them to meet & exceed the standards they are supposedly meeting in the North Sea where the nations that would be affected by a spill have forced them to put those countries needs first.
Jr looks well wined and dined!
Please be reminded you work for us.
Did you notice that Minister Heredia did not answer the question. He has been asked time and time again but he wiggles his way out of an answer. So he is saying Yes..to some people and NO to others. See it all depends who you are. Yes, he is a born San Pedrano and a Fisherman but he has also become an expert “POLITICIAN”. In San Pedro, on a local radio station morning show, he has been asked point blank this question more than once..but he never said yes or no….indeed Minister Heredia has achieved his diploma as a TRUE politician.
NO DRILLING FOR OIL OFF THE COAST OF BELIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no IFS, NO BUTS …. NO MAYBES!!!
Min. Heredia has a good heart. He will oppose off-shore drilling you will see….
You think so ‘Proud’?
He’s a politician – He hasn’t given a straight answer over this yet (I am sure there is a secret international school for this skill – politicians only – as no politician on this planet has, or ever will give a straight answer to anything, especially if they are going to benefit from the issue in question).
He’ll vote for the drilling, as it will be in his, and his parties interests. There will be many private contract signed to enrich those that help smooth the way for oil explorations underneath the official government ones, trust me.