Institute of Marine Studies in solidarity with tourism locals

The Belize Shipping Agents Association has already said it objects to the takeover of the tendering operations by foreign interests. Today other organizations also say they are on the side of the local tender operators. The opposition People’s United Party says that G.O.B. must act decisively to ensure that the livelihood of local operators is protected and that Belizeans should not be victimized to benefit a foreign interest. The P.U.P. went further to allege that there is collaboration with a well-placed U.D.P. insider, who was not named. The P.U.P. leader, according to the release, has also met with the local operators and stands ready to join forces with the stakeholders to do whatever is necessary to protect local interests.

The Institute of Marine Studies also says it is in solidarity with the local cruise ship tenders. In a strongly worded release, the I.M.S. appeals to “those Belizeans who have been enlisted to partake in this rape of the Jewel to resist the temptation of easy money and to commit themselves to a process that will see Belizean stakeholders being treated as partners by Carnival rather than subjects.”