San Pedro and Clearwater to Form Sister-City Partnership

As San Pedro residents gear up for tonight’s 7 p.m. public meeting on the controversial Cayo Rosario development, Mayor Wally Nunez has just returned from Clearwater, Florida. There, he’s been in talks with officials to establish a sister-city partnership focused on marine conservation. Earlier today, News Five caught up with Clearwater resident and attorney Greg Crist, who shared more details about this exciting collaboration.

 

                                 Greg Crist

Greg Crist, Attorney-at-law

“This was something that my partner, Michael Estephan, came up with.  He was actually searching for a sister-city relationship with San Pedro and he reached out to me because of the unique proximity of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium building a facility in Gales Point.  And so, the connection between the city of Clearwater and San Pedro had a unique connection through the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  Mayor Wally’s visit was really quite historic, in terms of being more than a symbolic gesture.  This is truly a step towards an international relationship that’s gonna be rooted in marine conservation, cultural exchange and sustainable ecotourism.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“What other features of this partnership do we, as Belizeans, look forward to from Clearwater?”

 

Greg Crist

“Well there’s gonna be significant opportunities in blue economy jobs.  Mayor Wally’s project right now is completing phase one which is initiating the sister-city relationship with the city of Clearwater. He came to Clearwater, this is his second visit, by the way, his first visit was a workshop to begin developing regional ties.  That’s stakeholders and collaborators within the business realm that would support the relationship, working on cultural exchange educational opportunities, exchanges with business opportunities and some best practices towards coastal conservation, and that’s a very significant element for Mayor Wally right now.  With manatees, dolphins and sea turtles and the ecosystems that those critical marine species need to survive.  We have a very unique biosystem in San Pedro and it’s important that Clearwater Marine Aquarium and San Pedro develop an international marine center to study this Mesoamerican Reef and more importantly the species that call it home.”

 

Belize Marine Rescue and Educational Center Soon to be a Reality

In December 2024, construction began on the Belize Marine Rescue and Educational Center in Gales Point Village, located at Southern Lagoon. This center will be open to the public, providing a unique opportunity to see the efforts to protect Belize’s precious marine wildlife up close. Greg Crist, along with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, has played a key role in making this initiative a reality.

 

                                Greg Crist

Greg Crist, Attorney-at-law

“There has been a groundbreaking facility, that project is a fully funded facility.  That hospital will go forward, it will be built and it will be a critical environment for not only manatees but perhaps other species.  What we’re talking about in San Pedro is a support component that will work very, very closely in hand.  Belize is going to be a world-class center for marine science, and this is what [Mayor] Nunez has been focused on in his visits here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.”

Modern Technology to Advance Conservation Efforts

Down in Placencia Village, the conservation group Strong Coasts is hosting some exciting technical training on LiDAR technology and Multispectral Imaging. These high-tech tools provide 3D data on terrain, vegetation, and wavelengths beyond what the naked eye can see. At the same time, Strong Coasts is holding sessions on erosion, a topic that hits close to home for the villagers. On Monday night, the community gathered for a presentation on coastal erosion, based on three days of data collected by visiting experts from the U.S. We caught up with Placencia-based Environmental Engineering Professor Maya Trotz to learn more about these activities.

 

                                      Maya Trotz

Maya Trotz, Environmental Engineering Professor

“The lidar and multispectral drone helps, they are trying to push the science to find out what information they can get on the ecosystem. Can they tell whether it is a mangrove or palm, from the data. Can they tell how tall something is. Can they tell the density of the mangrove, the health of the mangroves. It is pushing the boundaries for that type of research can support ground shooting activities that with a smaller staff you don’t really get to trample through those ecosystems to document that. Looking at how some of these tools can complement the work that people are doing. With three days of data I asked that a talk be given. We did that last night with one day’s notice. It was a packed crowd. It was supposed to rain; it stormed yesterday, and people came out. We were supposed to squeeze in to a small part of the Point Placencia Restaurant and Bar, but people are really interested. He gave a presentation that was walking through a 101 on erosion and sharing data collected so far. There is a stretch of beach, because of how the waves are coming in, it erodes faster. That is one of the areas the community is really concerned about. It has a lot of sargassum filling there.”

Filling the Gaps in Belize’s National Biodiversity Plan

Today marks the beginning of consultations by the National Biodiversity Office under the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change. They’re working to update the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, a crucial five-year initiative aimed at preserving Belize’s rich biodiversity and promoting sustainable growth. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the details.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been almost ten years since Belize introduced the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, a vital tool for managing the country’s natural resources. However, it’s time for an update. Saul Cruz, Director of the National Biodiversity Office, shares how the government intends to implement these necessary changes.

 

                                    Saul Cruz

Saul Cruz, Director, National Biodiversity Office

“What we’re looking at here is to really get stakeholder input, stakeholder guidance on the updating of our National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. So our last strategy dated from 2016 to 2020. And also with the updating of the global biodiversity goals countries who are, member states of the convention on biological diversity are provided support to realign those national strategies to ensure that as countries we are also meeting those global targets as well.”

 

 

Over the next three days, consultations will bring together stakeholders, including civil society groups and environmental co-managers. Since the plan’s inception, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been a key partner, supporting the National Biodiversity Office. Ryan Zuniga, UNDP Program Lead, shares more about this important initiative.

 

 

 

 

                       Ryan Zuniga

Ryan Zuniga, Program Lead, UNDP

“We’re doing consultation or supporting a consultation to revise the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. So from a UN perspective, we’re just ensuring that one, we’re providing resources for this process to take place. But in doing so, ensuring that it’s an inclusive and participatory process that we include all stakeholders vulnerable groups, vulnerable communities women led NGOs and also indigenous people in the process. We also want to ensure that it’s actionable, that it also aligns with our global targets as a UN organization in terms of mainstream and biodiversity conservation in the larger development space and context.”

 

 

The plans outline detailed strategies to achieve biodiversity goals across five key areas: mainstreaming, reducing pressures, protection, benefits, and implementation. Cruz noted that the updates won’t introduce major changes but will address gaps identified over the past decade.

 

 

 

 

Saul Cruz

“One of the things that we would want to see more represented is the inclusivity of our community groups of our indigenous groups, even before we got to this point of national consultation, my office has been very active in trying to engage our community members community organized groups, our indigenous groups and all these other players. And the intention is to have these social groups be represented much more within our biodiversity strategy. Because generally when you hear biodiversity, you would think, birds and trees and, these things. But no, this strategy has to represent benefit to communities because at the end of the day, we are the users.”

 

 

Funding is provided by the Global Environmental Facility, which the UNDP uses to support national governments in advancing environmental priorities.

 

Ryan Zuniga

“It’s on an ongoing basis. I think this project is just under a hundred and seventy five thousand US just for this process alone. But again, there are several different pots of money that we use to support the different aspects of the revision of the NBSAP. We have other things online other things in the pipeline that is to look at the full realization of the program, how it is that we determine the financial feasibility, the financial and economic feasibility of integrating this into the national development priorities.”

 

 

The National Biodiversity Office plans to update the strategy every few years to ensure it continues to meet Belize’s evolving biodiversity needs.

 

Saul Cruz

“So the strategy will obviously be a bit all inclusive and would have some really progressive goals. And so all these things will require financing. And so at the end of the day, for us to achieve those milestones, we need to also have mechanisms to generate some of those funds to ensure that we have those revenues or programs to sustain some of these actions that will be built into the biodiversity plan.”

 

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.

PACT and Belize Fund Team Up to Boost Conservation Funding

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust and the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future have teamed up to boost funding for Belize’s National Protected Areas System. Today, they signed an important agreement to ensure better and more coordinated financing for the country’s protected areas and natural resources. This partnership will focus on several key areas: raising funds together, creating consistent conservation financing policies, engaging with stakeholders, and working together in international conservation events. They also plan to raise public awareness about conservation through joint campaigns and a National Conservation Summit in 2025. 

 

                             Orlando Habet

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“Today’s MOU [signing] between PACT and the Belize Fund is a major step towards achieving these goals.  It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening conservation efforts, enhancing community engagement and ensuring that Belize’s ecosystems continue to thrive for generations to come.  PACT, with nearly thirty years of experience, and the Belize Fund, a bold initiative under our Blue Bond Agreement, have already invested over sixty-four million Belize dollars into conservation.  Together, their impact will grow even stronger through collaboration in policy, public awareness, financing, and shared action.  The collaboration in national and international forums will continue to build Belize’s identity as a leader in conservation and sustainable development.  These partnerships can allow both organizations to reach broader audiences and areas, expanding their impact.  Combining the knowledge of both organizations can lead to more effective and innovative solutions.”

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts: “We saw the need to work together.”

The agreement will last for five years, during which both organizations will regularly review their progress and work together on projects to improve Belize’s conservation efforts. PACT and the Belize Fund are dedicated to supporting Belize’s National Protected Areas System, which protects the country’s natural and cultural treasures and vital ecosystem services.

 

Abil Castaneda, Executive Director, PACT

“This was a few months in the making, to be honest, even before my arrival at PACT there was already some discussions happening about how both funds can really begin to work with one another for the sake of conservation and of building Belize and communities.  But I must say, as was related in the introduction, we are very happy, we are very pleased and excited to be with a signed document, even though we started well before we signed the document.  But at the end of the day, it is about putting Belize first.  It is about ensuring that we put all of our resources together to make sure we achieve the commitments and the goals we have for sustainable development.  As the minister put it, there is a huge financing gap in conservation in Belize, around the world, but Belize is no exception.”

 

 

                Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director, B.F.S.F.

“We saw the need to work together, coordinate and rationalize what the real need was to be able to provide funding that compliments each other rather than duplicate.  So that’s one of the biggest drivers, of course, as two funds with similar missions we are all working for the same space in Belize and we felt that it was important for us to partner where we can look at joint efforts for mobilizing additional funding from outside.  So, you know, two is better than one and working separately.  So we’re looking forward to this partnership and we see that it was just natural to get together and work because rather than compete, then we work, you know, can partner.”

Concerned Tourism Groups Steadfast Against Cayo Rosario

Cayo Rosario is a development project approved back in 2018 to build a resort extending into the sea. San Pedro residents are upset because they believe that the project will affect the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a protected area. Despite assurances from the Department of the Environment and other agencies that the project will be closely monitored, many tourism-related organizations and companies oppose it. The Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development is leading a meeting with San Pedro residents on Tuesday night. They hope to rally more protests to push the government to revoke the developer’s permit. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with two group members today and filed this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Despite reassurances from government environmental agencies just a week ago, tour-related groups in San Pedro are firmly against the Cayo Rosario project. Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai stated that the project was approved back in 2018 after meeting all environmental requirements. Last week’s statement also promised close monitoring of the project. However, Phillip Leslie, co-chair of the Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development, argued that it makes no sense to declare a reserve and then allow development within it.

 

                                     Phillip Leslie

Phillip Leslie, Co-chair, Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Dev.

“In 2015 after years of consultation and deliberation, that whole area was identified as an extension to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve because of the important bajos, which are the shallow banks where bonefish, tarpon, and permit use for habitats. So in 2015, it was declared a protected area. This is the fact that the DOE and other government departments are failing to see. You protect it for a reason. Why change?  In the rules and regulations, which are laws, for that protected area, which was an extension to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, it clearly states no structures, no dredging.”

 

 

Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai explained that there is a legal process for developers to gain private use of the seabed, which was followed in this case. He emphasized that the approval was based on scientific and technical data. However, Elito Arceo, another member of the association, questioned what other developments might be allowed in the future.

 

 

 

 

                            Elito Arceo

Elito Arceo, Concerned San Pedro Resident

“Should we have over-the-water bungalows at Half Moon Caye? Or at the Blue Hole? So where is this gonna stop? It doesn’t belong to them. It belongs to the people of Belize. Those people should be working for us. How in God’s name you gonna sit down there and even consider, much less approve a project that sits in a marine reserve! You protected it for a reason.”

 

 

The meeting is set for seven Tuesday night at the San Pedro Lions Den. Marion Ali for News Five.

 

For more information visit:

https://greaterbelize.com/doe-assures-strict-compliance-for-cayo-rosario-project/

https://greaterbelize.com/san-pedro-residents-respond-to-doe-official/

https://greaterbelize.com/government-to-increase-oversight-of-cayo-rosario-development/

https://greaterbelize.com/residents-continue-protest-of-cayo-rosario-project-public-meeting-set-for-coming-week/

htps://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/186782

https://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/172075

https://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/169849

https://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/168995

 

BPM Takes Government to Court for Lack of Redistricting  

Next week, the Belize Peace Movement (BPM) is taking the Election and Boundaries Commission to court to argue that the overall voter’s list, known as schedule one, doesn’t meet constitutional requirements. It’s been several years since the Government of Belize promised to redistrict the country’s thirty-one constituencies to ensure each has a nearly equal number of voters, as outlined in the constitution. The BPM has been vocal in pushing for a faster redistricting process. We spoke with BPM member Paul Morgan for more details on the case.

 

Paul Morgan, Belize Peace Movement

 “The court’s supposed to be the guardian of that constitution. They should guard that thing zealously and jealously, and that the court shouldn’t hesitate to accept our case and expedited as if it was their own. Although our system is adversarial, we as citizens came to the court to say, listen, check this out. And it wasn’t the first one we filed in 2019, similar, but not the same. Before in 2019, we were just trying to force proposals, which they did, in this what I call a nonsensical proposal. They put together. They did that knowing that they wanted to stall. The judge in that first case. When we went to the judge to enforce the requirements that it was not constitutional, the proposals were not constitutional, the judge said that your case, you’re asking for reliefs that does not fit under this one this case. So please, you should go ahead and file another case, a fresh case. This is what we did. The government has delayed that case from November 21st, 2024 to this date, talking about that we as citizens would have forfeited our rights by signing a consent order with the government that they must produce these proposals. Totally ridiculous. How can citizens forfeit their fundamental rights?”

 

DOE Meets with Regulatory Agencies Over Cayo Rosario Project

On Monday, the Department of Environment held a meeting with regulatory agencies to address the concerns raised by San Pedro residents about the Cayo Rosario Project. As reported last week, island residents are protesting the large-scale development within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Oceana Belize has also called for stronger protection of Belize’s marine ecosystems. Beverly Wade, the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Blue Economy, attended the meeting. Here’s what she had to say about the outcome.

 

                             Beverly Wade

Beverly Wade, C.E.O., Ministry of Blue Economy

“Cayo Rosario is a very emotional matter and it is understood. It is something that is close to naturally the resident’s hearts. The bottom line is that it is a private island and there was a development proposed. What happened in 2021 there was a revised ECP which took into consideration the concerns of the community, the fly fishers, the density of the project as much as possible to ensure that what was being permitted would not negatively affect the marine reserve. I am very happy to report that yesterday the DOE held a meeting with all regulatory agencies to chart a way forward in order for the agencies to be more coordinated and to ensure they are in a position to carry out the regulations in line with the ECP carried in 2021 and what was authorized for development, but also in a position for better communication with the community and stakeholders so they understand what the development is. They should also understand that the authorities have a presence to ensure what is happening out there is what is permitted.

G.O.B. Hosts Inaugural Blue Forum

Key players in Belize’s marine sector came together in Belize City to chart the future of one of the country’s most precious natural treasures. The Government of Belize, teaming up with the Inter-American Development Bank, launched the first-ever Blue Forum. Over the next two days, the event will spotlight knowledge, innovation, and action. News Five’s Paul Lopez was at the Biltmore for the opening ceremony and has this report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This morning in Belize City, the Government of Belize and the Inter-American Development Bank launched the Blue Forum. Themed ‘Advancing Collaboration and Innovation for Belize’s Blue Economy,’ the event aims to foster new ideas and partnerships. Prime Minister John Briceno took center stage as the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony.

 

           Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It is not just for us to be here at a forum to talk and boast about our accomplishments. It is important for us to come together as a community, as Belizeans and people that live outside of Belize to discuss what we have done so far and what we have done together. This Blue Forum is about knowledge, innovation and action. So, we gather for more than a celebration of our progress but to testify about our shared commitment to the sustainable management and conservation of Belize’s vast marine resources. And we take this opportunity to gather as like-minded people, to rally behind this just cause, a cause which will shape a future where Belize’s marine wealth is not only protected but harnessed to uplift every Belizean.”

 

The forum is a gathering of key players in Belize’s marine sector, diving into insightful discussions on science-based ocean management. On the first day of the Blue Forum, the spotlight was on knowledge, innovation, and action driving Belize’s vibrant blue economy. Beverly Wade, the CEO of the Ministry of Blue Economy, highlighted that the engagement zeroes in on both the triumphs and hurdles within the marine space.

 

                    Beverly Wade

Beverly Wade, C.E.O., Ministry of Blue Economy

“It is really a call to action for us to colelctiv3ly put our efforts together to help us continue to chart a way for a successful blue economy in Belize that is based on science, informed decision making and that we have people central to the discussion. We have a series of sessions to touch on various areas, from sciences, to applying that science, community resiliency, stewardship and the big discussion around sustainable financing. The idea is that each session will lead to discussions, and we are hoping to now have a  formal proceeding that will have recommendations coming from each session that we will use as regulatory agencies, as on the ground partners, to look at where are those areas we now need to look at strategically and put our investments in.”

 

Minister of Blue Economy, Andre Perez, delivered the closing remarks at the ceremony. Minister Perez emphasized that Belize’s blue space is not just a natural treasure but also a key economic driver. He stressed that his ministry is committed to making science-based decisions and ensuring that everyone has a voice in the process.

 

                        Andre Perez

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy

“We cannot do this work alone. The challenge we face such a climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, habitat degradation and the need for long-term financing are complex and interconnected. Addressing them requires a collective effort, bringing together government agencies, local communities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and international partners. This is why the blue forum is so important.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

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