Local News

A meeting took place yesterday between government officials and Oceana’s Chief Executive Officer, Andy Sharpless.  Sharpless also met with members of the private sector, and requested a meeting with Prime Minister, Dean Barrow.  However, a release from Oceana states that the Office of the Prime Minister was unable to accommodate that request.  However, he met with the Leader of the opposition Francis Fonseca and provided him with an overview of Oceana’s purpose and work internationally and in Belize.  Sharpless also discussed Oceana’s work globally and locally on offshore oil exploration and drilling and shared Oceana’s position of protecting Belize’s long term development by not placing the nation’s fragile and important marine ecosystem at risk.  In sharing his views, Fonseca noted that, given Belize’s current economic times, the choice of oil may seem as an ‘easy fix’ however, the choice which ensures the long-term sustainable viability of Belize is what is key to the country’s prosperity. He explained his party’s support for Oceana’s position on offshore oil exploration and welcomed continued dialogue on this and other like matters.