Over 100 workers of South Beach protest in San Pedro
It’s a project that has been under the microscope since late last year due to environmental concerns. The South Beach project on San Pedro Town is back in the news today and it is not getting rave reviews. This time it is because the over one hundred construction workers, in a preemptive strike, took to the streets of the island to protest what they term as eventual unemployment. But while the workers were acting on fear of losing their jobs, South Beach is saying there could be nothing further away from the truth. In fact, according to their attorney, the project is set to start as soon as certain conditions are met and the only problem they have at this time is a slight delay. Marion Ali visited San Pedro to find out what all the fuss was about.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The construction workers paraded from Reef Village, a sister company to the South Beach project towards the centre of Town. But they never made it because San Pedro police dispersed the crowd within minutes after the protest had begun.
According to Officer Commanding the San Pedro Police Station, Superintendent Dennis Arnold, the protestors did not have the required documents to conduct their protest. Arnold told us off-camera that in order to conduct a demonstration legally, one needs to get the permission of the police at least thirty-six hours in advance of the planned event. But even though the demonstration was brought to a halt, a couple of the protestors still felt their message got across.
Edwardo Vasquez, Protestor
“We are interested in more jobs because lot of people need the jobs. So that’s what we were looking into. The project is much bigger than this and we almost finish here at Reef Village. So the protest is exactly so that we can have a prepared job for a lot of workers.”
Marion Ali
“But why did you see the need to protest?”
Edwardo Vasquez
“The thing is some people here in San Pedro, especially San Pedranos are not with us. They are the people that don’t want the South Beach get approved. That’s why we were doing this protests so that they can see its necessary for our workers.”
Marion Ali
“What you mean they’re not with you?”
Edwardo Vasquez
“Well, they against this project, south Beach, they are saying they noh really want this project go on.”
Dillon Michael, Protestor
“Deh di complain bout dehn di—well I noh really know dah who dah di people dehn—dehn di complain bout di building ah di place and di areas, bout di mangroves. But deh got other areas weh deh could protect. Dis area dah wah nice area and ih wah benefit di tourists, ih wah benefit we di Belizean and other people families out there. So I noh si why dehn want stop di project from happen.”
One of those people is this man, who goes by the nickname “Moose”.
Moose
“The lagoons provide the life for our reef. Without our reef being alive, we lose tourism in this whole country. I can see problems with South Beach and their dredging when they do eventually, if they are allowed to, they will eventually dredge for that project. Silt from dredging anywhere on any barrier reef on this project can drift at least eight to ten miles on the average which means Hol Chan Marine Reserve, from which I understand is right on the border of the South Beach project plan, that will be destroyed. That will help bring the demise of our reef and if tourism dies in San Pedro, tourism dies in all of Belize.”
But that will not happen according to Legal Advisor for South Beach, Arthur Saldivar.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney, South Beach Development Corp.
“After complying with all the legal requirements established under the laws of Belize, that South Beach Development Corporation was given on approval of its E.I.A. and the E.C.P., which is required before development commences. So the situation that occurred this morning was as a result of misinformation and mischief. I cannot at this point state exactly where it came from but I believe that given what we have in relation to the signed documentation from the government of Belize and from the Department of the Environment regarding our EIA, that our workers and those persons who seek employment opportunities in San Pedro need not fear. The parameters within which the developers must work is clearly laid out and at all times D.O.E. is in control.”
Marion Ali
“But is the project delayed?”
Arthur Saldivar
“Well whether a project is delayed or not, again…”
Marion Ali
“That is there concern, that after this project at Reef Village ends, until South Beach comes on stream they will have nothing. They will not have that steady income.”
Arthur Saldivar
“Well, at this time Reef Village is not completed as yet, there’s still work at Reef Village. It’s coming to an end yes, it’s almost built out but the approval is in place for South Beach so there should not be a long transition period from Reef Village to South Beach.”
Saldivar says the development will come in phases and will be a project that will put Belize’s tourism industry at the level it ought to be. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
News Five tried to reach the Chief Environmental Officer, Martin Alegria, to get the Department of Environment’s position but our efforts were futile.
