7 News Belize

Belizeans Are Reef People
posted (March 19, 2013)
We've got all kinds of awareness weeks in Belize, but now the protectors of our Marine environment want you to celebrate reef week. It was officially declared open last night, and OCEANA's Audrey Matura Shepherd told us why Belizeans are people of the reef:

Audrey Matura-Shepherd - VP, Oceana Belize
"Reef Week is connected to everything, controversial and non-controversial issues. But really, it is an opportunity for people to put any differences aside, and let's accept what the reality is. We have one of the most beautiful reefs. It serves us many purposes. It helps us earn money; it's a tourist attraction, and for fishing. That brings in money. It also protects money because everytime it shields us from hurricanes and any kind of storms, it's helping us not to have to go and build a house every minute, like the ants, who get their homes destroyed every minute. And definitely, it adds value to our lives."

Hon. Lisel Alamilla - Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
"I think that it is important that we as Belizeans continue to ensure that our children and that our populace at large understand that Belize has 80% of the Meso-American Barrier Reef Complex. The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest portion."

Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"And that's the message that we want peopleto understand. That is why the theme is 'Belizeans, People of the Reef.' We are people of the reef."

Hon. Lisel Alamilla
"While I was listening to the different speakers today, I thought, how come we hadn't thought about this before? Really, our identity as a people is very much linked to the Belize Barrier Reef. I am very hopeful that indeed this is just the seed being planted today."

Reef Week will culminate on Sunday March 24, 2013 with a grand sea float parade around Belize City.

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