APAMO Addresses SATIIM-U.S. Capital Fight During AGM

Jose Perez

Another issue that is bubbling is SATIIM’s fight against U.S. Capital Energy and the government. APAMO’s general membership is consistent with the position that oil drilling in national parks is illegal.

Jose Perez, Executive Director, APAMO

“SATIIM has basically been addressing the issue on their own. What we are saying and agreed; the general membership is saying let’s join SATIIM in its efforts to stop what we feel is an illegal action because our official position as APAMO is that there should be no oil drilling in national parks. We believe that the necessary consultation is just being overlooked. We’ve seen that trend that when the committee speaks it seems as though nobody is listening. And we are hoping that in the new strategy that we will develop by next week reaching out to the government and let’s talk. I think that many of these developments are being supported by government in the name of the need for foreign exchange. I think the value of our natural resources has been totally overlooked. I think the value of our natural resources in their natural state is definitely not being appreciated. I think that one of our responsibilities to do as APAMO is share this information with government. Maintaining our natural resources in a natural state and using these resources in a sustainable manner had economic value. We have been a bit poor in that regard is to highlight the importance and economic value that these natural resources have.”

Replacing Edilberto Romero as chairperson is Anthony Hislap, Chairman of the Billy Buccaneer National Park. Greg Ch’oc of SATIIM remains as treasurer and two new councilors were elected: Christina Garcia, Executive Director of Ya’axche Conservation Trust and Marciel Alamina, the president of Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary.