Port Advised to Re-think its Public Consultation

Minister of the Blue Economy, Andre Perez, has weighed in on the proposed expansion at the Port of Belize. In a statement issued this evening, the newly assigned minister said  “we have been listening to the concerns of those that have been studying and opposing this project ever since it was proposed under the previous government, as well as the consultants for the Port of Belize Cruise Project. I have also had the opportunity to dialogue with the Prime Minister and other ministers on this matter.  After only two weeks of being installed as a government, the overall consensus is that there are so many other pressing issues of national importance that need our urgent attention such as the economic crisis our country is presently in; the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths; and the effects of major flooding in many parts of our country. These are the issues that are priority for us.”

Minister Perez goes on to say that a project of that scale has to be endorsed by the Ministry of the Blue Economy.  Based on discussions that have been held with other entities, including the Fisheries Department and other environmental groups, it is their collective position that the consultation process has been flawed.  The statement goes on to say, “there are several entities that have been called out as having endorsed this project while they have publicly stated that they have not. They may have been consulted but that cannot be classified as an endorsement.  With that said, the developers of the Port of Belize Cruise and Cargo Expansion Project are advised to re-think their consultation process and seek ways of addressing major concerns such as ocean dumping in the area proposed which has the potential to jeopardize Belize’s important World Heritage Site, the Barrier Reef, while significantly impacting the tourism sector.”