APAMO WRITES MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

October 26, 2007

This afternoon a release issued by government says that on Tuesday Cabinet agreed to sell “the so called Beltrade” land north Ambergris Caye which covers a total of eight thousand two hundred and fifty five acres of land.  The proposed purchasing price is thirty four million Belize dollars.  According to the press release, the land is to be used for a world class resort that will create hundred of jobs and strengthen the economy significantly.  The release furthers says that the location of the land is south of Bacalar Chico National Park and in not part of the World Heritage site.  The release continue by saying that besides this proposed purchase, the Government of Belize has been negotiating with another group of investors the sale of some two thousand seven hundred acres of land on the lagoon side or south western corner of the Bacalar Chico National Park.  However, no decision has yet been made for any de-reserving in this area.  Yesterday, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organization, APAMO, issued a letter asking Minister of Natural resources and the environment Florencio Marin to state government’s intention to partially de-reserve and sell the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine reserve.  This afternoon Love News spoke with coordinator of APAMO, Yvette Alonzo. 

Yvette Alonzo, coordinator of APAMO:

“Well this is very concerning for the conservation community. It means a lot of things for us. Bacalar Chico as you know it is one of seven sites that make up the barrier reef reserve system and has been declared a World Heritage site. So it’s not just of national importance but also of international global importance as well. Belize signed on to the convention in 1996 and as such, committed itself to ensure the integrity of this area. So it’s very concerning that this national and globally important site would even be considered for de-reservation selling.” 

Arturo Cantun,Love FM:

“Based on the release that you just read, it seems that they are negotiating the de-reserving of 2007 hundred acres of the national park.” 

Yvette Alonzo, coordinator of APAMO:

“As I said, this is still very concerning for us because we would like to strongly recommend that none of Belize’s national parks, much less the World Heritage site, be even considered for de-reservation or alternation in any way.” 

The release continues by saying that they organizations are very concerned that funding received various international organizations for the proper maintenance of the park may be compromised.  Alonzo added that the convention signed by Belize in 1996 provides for the protection of those cultural and natural properties deemed to be of outstanding universal importance. 

Yvette Alonzo, coordinator of APAMO:

“Well Bacalar Chico as I said is apart of Belize’s barrier reef system. It’s a habitat for many threatened species and of course and it’s a tourist attraction. The international community will definitely react to such de-reservation or even consideration of the de-reservation of this area because it is very important and as a habitat it’s rich in biodiversity. It’s only second to the tropical rainforest. The site does receive a lot of funding as a marine of Belize’s protected areas for example WWF so you do have a lot of funding that is being put into these areas for its proper management. These people are investing huge amounts of money in the proper management for safeguarding the integrity of this area and for some reason, if it should occur, it would definitely be an embarrassment for the government of Belize so I think it should be thought twice before they even start considering something like this.” 

Yvette Alonzo, coordinator of APAMO.

In an interview on Wednesday with Minister of Natural resources and the environment, Florencio Marin, he told Love News that his ministry is considering the sale of the land and are weighing the benefits.   

Hon. Florencio Marin, Minister of Natural resources and the environment:

“That’s a situation that has reached the Cabinet and I am weighing and considering the benefits and most likely I will visit the area very soon to verify myself. I know it’s a very sensitive area, but we also have to consider what economic benefits it could have for the country. There are people interested in organizing it and brining economic development, building condominiums and hotels. They are a group of Koreans in particular. I haven’t signed anything. As I understand it, the reserve is about 10-15 acres and what is being considered or looked upon is about 2,700 acres.” 

In a release issued this evening by the United Democratic Party, the party “demands that ministers of Cabinet at once reverse course, cancel the sale arrangements, and give back all the money collected from the deal”.  It continues by saying that, “Cabinet must apologize to Belizeans and the world community for its sacrilege.”  The U-D-P also warns that any attempt made by the Cabinet to take this matter to the House of Representatives will be met by popular resistance that the U-D-P will help to organize and lead.

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