Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"Madam Speaker, I take great pleasure in announcing to the house and to the nation that cabinet on a meeting on Tuesday, agreed to have prepared and to bring to parliament, a bill that would enshrine into law the moratorium against offshore oil exploration activity. In consequence of conversation with Oceana and the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage, cabinet felt that the time has come to put the policy commitment into law. It makes no practical difference since under either regime, there is not going to be any licenses granted for offshore oil exploration activity but it certainly, I believe, gives comfort to those who require such comfort that this is a step beyond just the policy commitment."