Cabinet approves Belize’s ratification of the ESCAZU agreement

Cabinet gave its approval for Belize to ratify the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (ESCAZU Agreement). This Agreement will uphold and strengthen the values of democracy in the region, foster more inclusive community-oriented actions and set the foundation for improved policy and decision-making. The Escazu Agreement is the first environmental treaty of Latin America and the Caribbean. It entered into force on 22 April 2021. It promotes the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change: “I am happy that I could have taken that document to cabinet. We already signed the agreement but it needed ratified, cabinet gave its full support showing that our government is certainly willing and truthfully engaging the public because it provides information, accessibility and justice. So as you mentioned what we have to do now is to see how the department can look at the areas that have to be strengthened. I think during the past administration the Attorney General had identified some areas that need to be strengthened. We already have some acts like the Freedom of Information act that provides some of that accessibility to information but we have to strengthen all legislation that will guide the effectiveness of the ESCAZU agreement.”