The weight of the Coalition lies heavily on Maranco’s Oil Concession
Giovanni Brackett
On Tuesday the government said it had awarded Maranco Ltd. a production sharing agreement, giving the green light for oil exploration in northwestern Orange Walk District which includes the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area. The Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, has reacted with disappointment to the award of the contract. According to the coalition Chairman, Giovanni Brackett, the organization submitted an objection to the issuance of the concession; however, a complete review of Maranco’s technical and financial capacity was not conducted because there was not full disclosure of information by the company.
Giovanni Brackett, Chairman, Coalition To Save Our Natural Heritage
“Well the Coalition’s executive committee would have to meet and have to discuss the way forward if government will continue to act in this almost undemocratic fashion whereby they continue to go with this ‘Drill baby drill!’ policy. [It’s] a policy without the proper regulations, I mean we have a petroleum act but there’s limited regulation in terms of this oil industry. I mean right now if you look at the budget this year it’s fifty thousand [dollars] that will be allotted to the Geology & Petroleum [Department] for computers, not to buy booms, not to buy technical equipment [or] to higher two or three more geologists [or] experts to understand how our country [works]. Belize is a very environmentally sensitive country on a whole. We have our barrier reef, we have our watersheds, we have several protected areas that we have been protecting for years. Now these areas are in threat because of oil exploration impacts. So the coalition will have to meet and decide the way forward. As the chairperson I can only say that we are upset and we’re not happy with the way the government is behaving.”
Brackett further stated that the submission the coalition made was limited because Maranco only disclosed its work plan and not the relevant documentation that is necessary to determine the feasibility of their undertaking. The coalition also calls on the government to respect and adhere to the democratic process by allowing the people to decide whether they will allow oil drilling in offshore and protected areas.
well it takes a knowledgeable leader to know how to run his department; this is proof that Vega knows nothing of how to run and protect our resources. i wont be mistaken if he has no interest in this field either, the Ministry of Natural Resources is not only about giving and taking away house lots, its more than that!!
this will continue because uncle barrows nephew is involved they are all getting rich off the backs of the poor belizean people who are struggling just to make ends meet while he his wife his exwife and family keep raping the country and people of belize march my people march so let it be said let it be written.
I’ll throw my support 100% behind the coalition in an effort to bring the GoB to the table so as to ensure the way forward is in the best interest of the enviornment and the Belizean people.(not necessarily in that order)
So keep up the good work Giovanny. And I want to hear more bout the PSA….. the PSA, my boy, noh lose sight ah dat!!!
anyone from OW would know that gappy was never a bright bulb whe he was working at the bank…..then he goes to USA and when he come back ..BOING.!!!!…he ‘smart’ all of a sudden….wonda if they change his bulb in USA????
i think we should all stop depend on any government to solve our issues or problems. they say the power lies in the people…but each time you vote for another party in Belize, you loose that power all together. They make decisions even when not in government. NO human government can help us because they are naturally selfish, corrupted, greedy people just like anybody else who sees an advantage and goes for it. It’s all business!! wake up..
Giovanni, please listen to yourself and think before you open you mouth papa. 90% of what u spew out is garbage and makes no sense. It is obvious that you got a copy of the application. The disclosure that you are claiming isn’t there is right there papa. If you cannot read and understand the entire application along with the accompanying documents please get someone to help you. Audrey seh she dah legal expert soh she wah can’t help yo, but please papa, get somebody fi help yo so yo noh sound like wah J/A and a dunce when yo deh pan tv.