G.O.B. Assessing Boiton Minerals Limited

Orlando Habet

Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet says that the Chiquibul does provide about forty percent of the water for the country. Luckily, Boiton doesn’t use any chemicals in its activities, but the mechanical work has to be addressed. The company was given its permits back in 2018 under the U.D.P. administration, but Minister Habet says that there is a process and there has to be a review of legislation as well. 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“This happened before we came in because the last licenses were offered in 2018; we just got in November of last year. But not to cast blame on anyone, but when the government is look at investment and investors coming in, some of these things have to be assessed. And I am of the opinion that any major investment should go to an economic committee to look at it before even putting it forth to the Department of Environment because what happens is that when you already go through an E.I.A. and you pay your fees, for some reason or the other – of course because of money – the company feels that they are entitled, like there’s an obligation to assist you further. But in addition to that, the way the law is written is that there is a process, there is a timeframe. So now you apply within six months or so that you put in your E.I.A., there has to be a revision process and you have to be informed of that it was received and that it has been reviewed. Then two weeks later, it has to go to consultation, two weeks later a site visit and then it goes to NEAC and NEAC has two weeks to  report to you whether or not it is approved or not. So once you trigger it, there is a process. So these are things that we have to review legislation and everything else, for sure.”