D.O.E. Says E.I.A. on Angelfish Caye Tourism Project Must Be Improved, Resubmitted

The decision by the Department of Environment came on the heels of a meeting held by the National Environmental Appraisal Committee on November twenty-fourth. But the Port of Belize project was not the only item that was discussed.  On Thursday, D.O.E. also issued a statement on its decision with respect to a tourism project on Angelfish Caye, located ten and a half miles east of Hopkins Village within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. Considering the social and economic factors, as well as impacts to the environment, NEAC felt that there were numerous issues and recommended that the E.I.A. report be improved and resubmitted to the department. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai says that the developer in this project has already been informed.

Anthony Mai

Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, Department of Environment

“It is a relatively small project located within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. The investors propose to construct what they refer to as an ecotourism project on three small islands. The islands are, in terms of the proposal, will be interlinked through boardwalk and there will be a series of overwater structures that will be built around these three islands, including a proposed helipad. The NEAC deliberated on the project on November twenty-fourth. The deliberation included the public concerns. It also include the technical review of the E.I.A .report that was submitted for this project. The NEAC recommended to the D.O.E. after the review that the report itself had some technical gaps and therefore the report needs to be improved from a technical and scientific standpoint and then resubmitted for them to review again and to make a final determination on the project as it relates to recommendations to the D.O.E.”

The letter was sent to the investor on December sixth. There is no timeframe for the resubmission, but there is a list of specific guidelines for the E.I.A. preparers.