A National Environmental Enforcement Task Force has been formed. The task force is expected to adequately respond to what environmentalists say are persistent failures in environmental regulation and oversight.
A statement from the Department of Environment (DOE) says the task force is composed of “key regulatory agencies, was established during a meeting held to address longstanding challenges in compliance monitoring, enforcement capacity, and inter-agency coordination.”
Monthly meetings are expected to target violations linked to large-scale developments and chronic non-compliance with environmental clearance conditions. However, critics note that the DOE’s renewed urgency shows years of inaction, particularly as public pressure mounts over unchecked development and the lack of accountability in high-risk environmental zones.
Discussion points at the task force’s launch included the classification of environmental offences, the need for updated legislation, and plans for shared public awareness campaigns.
“This national task force represents a unified response to Belize’s urgent environmental challenges and underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable development, community well-being, and environmental justice,” DOE said.