APAMO Says GOB Isn’t Considering Ecological Impact of Stake Bank Project

Jose Perez

While there is support from government and stakeholders, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organization is not as accommodating. APAMO held its sixth annual general meeting today at the headquarters of the Belize Audubon Society. After dealing with elections, twelve executive members got down to nailing two resolutions on national issues: SATIIM’s fight against U.S. Capital Energy and the government and the mega Stake Bank tourism project. APAMO is of the view that the ecological impact is not receiving due consideration.

Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO

“As a responsible organization, we are taking it one at a time. As I said immediately after the appointment of a new executive council one of first actions taken is to discuss these issues and we decided that we need to take aggressive action. We need to do the necessary background research; we want that whenever we take a stand it is evidence based. Secondly we are looking forward to reach out to partners, stakeholders who also have interest and act and try to present our concerns to the regulatory authorities.”

Duane Moody

“NEAC had a meeting earlier this week; we don’t know the outcome as yet. Whether given the Feinstein group was given the green light. But what if that has happened already? How is it that whatever steps that you are going to take will get any kind of reaction or halt in the process or development of stake bank?”

Jose Perez

“We are looking forward to plan a campaign reaching out to partners. What specific actions we will take but what I can say at this time is that as early as next week the executive council will be meeting to develop a strategy and a course of action to address these things immediately. We want to make sure that we gather the necessary information and we will speak immediately to those issues. The ecological impacts that that development may have and the manatee of course is only one of the natural research that can be impacted.  But definitely we will be doing the necessary work and we will be speaking to the media sooner than later.”