$20 Million Covers Only a Few Destinations From Sargassum

Twenty million dollars would cover sargassum control equipment for only three or four of Belize’s major tourism destinations, according to Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler, as the Briceño administration seeks World Bank financing to tackle the growing crisis.

Prime Minister John Briceño raised the issue at high-level meetings in Bangkok, arguing that climate change is fuelling a sargassum crisis across the Caribbean. Mahler welcomed the government’s attention to the problem, saying, “It’s about time that some serious interest is being put. I have been sounding the alarm for about 5 years.” 

But the initial investment would come with recurring costs. Mahler estimates that operating the equipment would cost hundreds of dollars annually.

“It’s just a start for equipment, maybe three or four major destinations. You’d have an operational cost, which we estimate somewhere about $400,000 or $500,000 a year, just to have these things running,” Mahler added.

Mahler also warned that specialised equipment takes time to build, while countries across the region compete to secure supplies, making it urgent for Belize to act.

Although Mahler pointed to other factors that may have contributed to a decline in foreign visitors, he said the tourism sector is being affected by a loss of local visitors as well. “We’re losing our own domestic visitors not wanting to go to the offshore or the offshore communities or the coastal communities because it’s just not pleasant, right? And it looks and smells smut,” Mahler said. 

Mahler said the proposed $20 million would cover only part of the response, while annual operating costs would add to the financial undertaking.