Government Takeover Puts Port Expansion Plan Back in Play

For years, Belizeans have argued about what the Port of Belize should become, but tonight, the conversation is shifting. After Waterloo’s ambitious expansion plan collapsed under environmental objection and technical red flags, the project seemed destined to sit on the shelf. Now, with the Government of Belize taking full control of the port, the debate has snapped back to life, this time with a different power dynamic and a new set of expectations. Under NEXTERA’s guidance, the country is hitting reset. Engineers, residents, business owners, and stevedores are back at the table, not just revisiting old proposals but asking tougher questions: What does responsible development look like? Who benefits? Who bears the risk? The promise of growth is on one side; the realities of environmental and social impact sit firmly on the other. It’s a pivotal moment for a project that could change the coastline and the economy. And as consultations reopen, Belizeans are watching closely, not just to see if the port will grow, but whether this time the process itself will be different. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Back in 2022, Waterloo was all in, ready to pour major investment into expanding the Port of Belize, building a full cruise terminal, and upgrading the country’s aging cargo operations.

 

Allan Herrera, Local Environmental Consultant, NEXTERA (File: Sep 2^nd, 2022)

“This is the icing of all investments because here we’re contemplating a project where there will be a massive turnaround in the port.”

 

The project never got off the ground after its environmental impact assessments were rejected over threats to the barrier reef and problems with dredge‑spoil containment. Four years later, with the government now owning the Port of Belize, the expansion plan is back, and NEXTERA is once again leading consultations. On Wednesday night, they presented to a packed room at the Biltmore, where even supporters of the stalled Port Magical project showed up in branded T‑shirts.

 

Allan Herrera, Local Environmental Consultant, NEXTERA

“In this current project we are contemplating nearshore mangrove habitat creation from dredge spoils. In the previous iteration of the project the dredge spoils was suppose to be placed under water.”

 

The project includes a significant amount of dredging to modify the access channel, turning basin and berths for cargo and cruise ships. In total, just over eight and a half million cubic meters of dredge material will be extracted. We’re talking about nearly seven hundred thousand dump‑truck loads of spoil, and a Port Loyola resident even proposed using it to fill land in the community.

 

Dr. Abraham Flowers, Port Loyola Resident

“Those dredging material, can it be used in Port Loyola for landfill. Can that be used? We need it. So can you give us that?”

 

Allan Herrera

“Some of this material is useable, that is what the engineers are saying, it is useable for construction. It is beneficial dredge spoil. You cant build things on it. The rest is not useable in that way.”

 

Developers say the dredge material could jumpstart an entirely new coastal habitat, about five hundred acres of restored mangroves built right next to the port. But beyond the environmental pitch, the project also tackles the social questions hanging over Port Loyola. To understand how the expansion might affect families, jobs, and the neighborhood’s daily rhythm, the team went door‑to‑door and held community consultations. Those conversations and surveys revealed a set of concerns and priorities that will now help shape what comes next.

 

Sherlene Tablada, Consultant, NEXTERA

“What did we find, there was strong community support, eighty-three-point four percent expressed either strong or moderate support for the project. Some of the main concerns relate to the environmental concern from the community is noise pollution. This was one of the primary environmental concern.”

 

During consultations, stevedores raised a big concern: if the port goes fully mechanized, will their jobs disappear?

 

Windell Lemoth, Port Loyola Resident

“When the machines come and you only need one man to operate the crane what will happen to the twenty-nine men who use to go out there?”

 

Bruce Diaz, Stevedore

“You guys have sat down and consulted with us and far more we think we will have job security, but we have to get it in black and white. That is the stevedore point of view from me.”

 

Tour operators also want assurances that they won’t be left out if the project moves forward.

 

Jimmy Robinson, Tour Operator

“Right now at the tourist village we are outside looking in. So we challenge the government of Belize that even though we support this project and will continue to support it, we want to sign an agreement with you folks for perpetuity.”

 

One striking detail from the night wasn’t what happened, but who didn’t show up. Aside from the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, major marine conservation groups were noticeably absent. OCEANA, which loudly challenged the project in 2022, didn’t take a seat at the table this time around. Has the debate shifted, or are key watchdogs choosing to stay out, for now? Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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