B.T.I.A. supports People’s Referendum

A people’s referendum will be held next week Wednesday. The Belize Tourism Industry Association, which chairs the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage called on member organizations to support the referendum.  After almost eight thousand signatures were rejected, preventing a referendum, the Coalition decided to execute an independent poll. So next week, country-wide people will get the opportunity to vote on the issue of oil exploration offshore and in protected areas.  Executive Director of the B.T.I.A., Efren Perez, says that the matter is critical, especially from the tourism perspective.

Efren Perez, Executive Director, BTIA/Chair-Coalition to Save National Heritage

“We do represent a very huge industry in Belize, as you know, Tourism. And our main focus has always been responsible and sustainable tourism so when it comes to issues that we feel will at some point or the other affect our industry, we do take it very seriously and we try to engage ourselves in ways and means with which we can negotiate along with the Coalition to see how we can look forward to a positive ending to the entire Coalition effort. I think that we are looking forward right now is what the response of the people is. As you know there was a recent poll conducted and the numbers overwhelmingly showed that the people are in support of no drilling, and that is pretty much offshore drilling. What we want to do is that we want to use this negotiate with government and show them what the people think. Whichever government comes into play at the end of the day then I think we can be ready with all of these things to show them what the people actually want.”

Andrea Polanco

Efren Perez

“Should you have the people’s referendum and the people vote in favour of offshore drilling, are you willing to support the voice of the people when they are saying yes to offshore drilling?”

Efren Perez

“One of the key things right now is that we are not trying to fight against government; we are trying to make everybody know and are well educated in terms of what the offshore drilling can do for our industry, pretty much. If indeed it is that everybody votes for the referendum not to be passed and drilling to happen, we will again look at sustainable ways and responsible ways that we can deal with the issue with government to make sure our industry is not tampered. We do represent over twenty percent of the national GDP so definitely we want to make sure that that is not lost.”

B.T.I.A. is asking for financial contributions to support the event. Deposits can be made to Scotiabank account number 9138870.