Fisheries Administrator Concerned About Project
Concern about Puerto Azul is growing because there is little known about the proposed project. The only information out there is what Belizeans saw and heard in news reports from Cannes, where the so-called citadel of luxury was launched. But while it was launched in the French Rivera, it hasn’t gotten off the ground in Belize, where government stakeholders are now expressing reservations. Today, Fisheries Administrator, Beverly Wade, told News Five that it is difficult to comment in the absence of official facts…but based on what she has heard – like talk of an international airport on or near the reef, she’s got to be concerned.
Beverly Wade, Fisheries Administrator
Beverly Wade
“Seeing some of the other officials saying that we have received I have seen as the fisheries administrator a concept of the Puerto Azul project. I don’t know that it has moved from a concept stage yet. I am aware that there are plans for an EIA to be done for that project. But as far as I know it has not gone through any approval project yet or any serious revision yet.”
Reporter
“What’s your impression of it having seen the concept of the Puerto Azul project itself?”
Beverly Wade
“From the Fisheries Department’s perspective, there are some features of the development that are of some concern for us. I think as you all know there is the feature of an airport on the reef which is obviously a red flag for us and I guess the size of the development, but I don’t know what the final concept is because we have only been exposed to an initial screening of a concept. And we don’t know if that is the same concept that is being submitted for revision or for approval. So I wouldn’t be in a position to actually comment on what are some of the areas of interest for us until we see that final concept.”
Reporter
“You did mention that an EIA is in the works, can you tell us what information you have on that particular matter; the EIA itself?”
Beverly Wade
“Well I just know from the interview I think that Mr. Singh did that an EIA is being done, we haven’t been exposed to a TOR for an EIA as yet or as I say a final concept document. So that is at least not from our perspective not ready for us yet.”
The citadel of luxury boasts that it will accommodate about three hundred and fifty guests, an airstrip, restaurants and shopping malls.
