Southern Environmentalists Stop Mass Visit to Silk Caye

One major concern during Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye consultations in Placencia is the risk that mass tourism could pose to southern Belize’s fragile ecosystem. Communities in the south have long enjoyed a delicate balance between tourism and the natural attractions that make their destination unique. So, news of a proposed cruise excursion to Silk Caye raised alarm, prompting the Southern Environmental Association to issue a clarification. In a statement issued on Monday, SEA confirmed that no authorization was granted by its Board of Directors, and that approval for the tours was issued solely by the Interim Executive Director, who has since accepted responsibility and apologized. That disclosure has raised even more eyebrows, as acting executive director Walter Garbutt granted the approval. Critics argue that while the SEA insists there is “nothing further to see” following the apology, the incident underscores the need for stronger governance, transparency and safeguards, especially when decisions impact nationally revered ecosystems. We reached out to the Southern Environmental Association, the Belize Tourism Industry Association Placencia Chapter, tour operators from the area, Walter Garbutt and the usually available Eworth Garbutt, but no one is willing to address the matter on record. We’ll keep following.