DOE and Forest Offices Opened On La Isla Bonita

For the past two decades, there have been concerns over various development projects in San Pedro where questions have been raised regarding the involvement of the Department of Environment in those decisions. Those concerns are finally being allayed with the establishment of permanent offices for the Department of the Environment and Forestry on the island. The offices came about after discussions between the Minister of Sustainable Development, Orlando Habet and Belize Rural South Area Representative, Andre Perez and San Pedro Mayor, Wally Nunez. Today Habet explained that both offices will also be neighbours with NEMO in San Pedro.

Orlando Habet

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“In San Pedro, there was a need for an office – for an improved office, a better office for NEMO, so we found a location, but we also want to incorporate the Department of Environment and also to have an office for the Forest Department. So hopefully, we can get this location where the three offices can be housed in one building, and so that there can be some type of collaboration. But very important, the Department of Environment deploys officers when we get calls that there’s a problem. We know because of the tourism, because of the fast development in San Pedro and also in Caye Caulker, that there is a need for permanent posted personnel for the Department of Environment. We are aware of the developments and we want the developments, but we want the developments to be sustainable. So the investors come in and they want to build a hotel, a resort, and that’s fine, but after going through the environmental impact assessments, getting environmental clearance, we need to make certain that they do it sustainably. So the Forest Department will be there to work along with them to see if – to minimize the destruction of mangroves if there has to be any, and to make – possibly replant some in other areas where they can, and the Department of Environment will also to make certain that whatever has to do with the environment is also abided by, and we will be cognizant of the fact that one of the big issues there will be garbage, also the black waters, grey waters, sewage material. They will be there to also assist and collaborate with the town council for St. Pedro Town and the village council in Caye Caulker, so that all of these things can be taken into consideration when construction for development occurs.”