Petition Drive Targets Mining Threat in Belize’s Prime Coastal Zones

A growing backlash is building tonight against controversial development in two of Belize’s most prized coastal areas. The Belize Tourism Industry Association is now rallying public support, launching a petition for an immediate halt to mining and dredging in the Placencia Lagoon and Ambergris Caye. The group warns that ongoing environmental damage, especially to vital mangroves, could put the country’s tourism lifeline at serious risk. While acknowledging the need for development, BTIA President Efren Perez says it must be guided by science, transparency, and strict regulation to protect both the environment and the livelihoods tied to it. Here’s more on that story.

 

Efren Perez, President, BTIA

“I think one of the things that we have to look at is like you mentioned, there is… there has been concerns that have been raised, not only by the local communities but also from environmental groups with regards to the ongoing mining, dredging and the coastal alterations that have been occurring both in Placencia and in San Pedro. For us it is important that we look at these issues very strategically to ensure that the development of tourism within these destinations is occurring in a very sustainable manner. Tourism depends strongly on our natural assets that we have which is the lagoons and the ecosystems that strive within these areas. And for us to be able to have a ongoing development of tourism, we want to make sure that, that policies that have been set in place are clear and transparent and that consequences that are also attached to these violations are very stringent, right? So that we don’t have a repetition of these in the industry. We want to be able to have a review of these processes that have been issued out so that they are in lined with what is required by the law. No, we’re not saying we’re against development, certainly not. I think our industry strives on the ongoing development of the industry, but we want to make sure that there is a more clear, transparent process within all of this and that the enforcement, more than anything else is carried out effectively.”

 

Perez emphasizes BTIA’s commitment to working with industry stakeholders to maintain a balance between development and sustainability, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.

 

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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