ACCSD Gear Up to Fight Cayo Rosario Project

The National Environment Appraisal Committee has already approved the multimillion-dollar development on Cayo Rosario, located within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The mega tourism project initially called for ninety over the water structures as well as dredging in the protected area. That was met with resistance from San Pedranos and environmentalists, who have since re-energized the Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development. The project has since been scaled down to forty plus over the water structures and no dredging. But the group says it will leave no stone unturned to stop the controversial project and others that cause damage to the marine ecosystem. Councillor Gary Greif is the co-vice chair.

Gary Grief, Co-Vice Chair, ACCSD

Gary Grief

“We are continuously discussing issues like this. I remember a few years back when the Hol Chan Marine Reserve boundaries were expanded to include west of ambergris Caye which includes Cayo Rosario; the entire island was in a celebratory move. Now we fast forward to today when it is being considered by Central Government and the Department of the Environment to allow dredging and the construction of over the water structures in a marine reserve. You said it right, it energized the people of San Pedro to stand united and energize the ACCSD to reform. What we have been doing is exploring every avenue that we can to stop the construction of that project. We are seeking legal counsel; we are trying to get support from the public which is very easy because they understand how precious that area is. We wanna be in a situation at ACCSD to no longer be playing whack-a-mole. Every—and I’ll use the word ridiculous—every ridiculous concept that comes around, we don’t have to fight it. We want to be in a situation where local representation are allowed in the board, for example like NEAC, that are approving said projects.”